The latest ESPN NBA Draft projection for Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin
As the NBA Draft nears, ESPN’s latest 2025 mock is out and All-American Florida Gators point guard Walter Clayton Jr. currently is projected to head west. Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN have the Phoenix Suns selecting Clayton with the No. 29 pick in the first round.
Wrote Woo:
The Suns appear interested in getting younger and remaking their roster, with the prospect of a Durant trade also creating scenarios in which Phoenix could pick up additional draft picks earlier in the first round. A player like Clayton, who might be value-additive on a rookie-scale deal immediately, should be attractive to the Suns as they navigate a difficult salary sheet and try to better position themselves long term.
Clayton seems to have played himself into the first round with his NCAA tournament heroics, viewed as a sparkplug scorer who can help enhance a team’s bench unit. His confidence and shot-making skills will have to cover for his limited size and questionable defense.
Meanwhile, ESPN has Florida shooting guard Alijah Martin going 57th overall (second round) to the Orlando Magic.
Walter Clayton was an All-American last season
Clayton was the star player on Florida’s 36-4 national championship team. He averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 assists and 3.7 assists a game, hit one big shot after the other during the NCAA Tournament and was a consensus first-team All-American in his final season for the Gators. Most current NBA mock drafts have him going in the first round.
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Clayton was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament.
Martin averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from 3-point range in his lone season with the Gators after transferring from Florida Atlantic.
ESPN, like most mocks, has Dallas taking Duke forward Cooper Flagg, with the No. 1 overall pick.
The NBA Draft begins June 25 at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
