Walter Clayton Jr. ready to run point for Florida Gators in 2024-25

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators men’s basketball started preseason camp on Tuesday with a new player running the point. Walter Clayton Jr. has made the switch to the PG position this year following the departure of Zyon Pullin, who set a school record with his 3.77 assist-to-turnover ratio.

He leaves behind big shoes to fill for Clayton, a top-five scorer in the SEC last season at 17.6 points per game. Both Clayton and Pullin competed in the G League Elite Camp in May, but Clayton decided to return for his senior season after getting feedback from NBA coaches and scouts.

“One team told me they want a true point guard. Another team told me they want me for me, just want to see a little bit more defense,” Clayton said Tuesday. “Defense and protecting the ball. Those are two main things (to work on).”

Here’s video from Clayton’s press conference Monday and everything he said below, including his transition to point guard, new teammates, expectations for this season and more.

Walter Clayton Q&A

On the NBA Draft process:

Clayton: “It was smooth. I got some feedback from some teams. You know, different teams needed different things. Another team told me they want a true point guard. One team told me they want me for me, just want to see a little bit more in defense. So, I got some feedback from multiple teams.”

On his expectations going into that process:

Clayton: “I wasn’t leaning either way. I was just going into it open minded, trying to make it happen this year. But going in and getting the feedback, I think I made the right decision to come back.”

On his areas of focus this year:

Clayton: “Defense and protecting the ball. Those are two main things, for sure.”

On how that will translate to the team:

Clayton: “I think it’s going to translate greatly. Alija’s been a great addition on defense, and then offense, obviously. But I think as a team, everybody’s been working hard on defense, trying to get on the same page. We saw what happened last year. Can’t let that happen again.”

On how to prepare for being point guard:

Clayton: “Just getting to know my teammates, what passes they can catch, what passes might be a little bit more tough. What passes I can’t throw and can’t throw. I think I was a little careless with the ball sometimes last year, taking too many chances. So just being better with that.

On how will that affect his confidence:

Clayton: “I mean, I feel like, if I’m not turning the ball over, my confidence is going to be up there.”

On what it takes to be a good on-ball defender:

Clayton: “I think just being mentally locked in. Sometimes I get a little bit too high, looking away from their hips. You know, just being mentally out there the whole time. And if we have to play 30 seconds, the defense has to be there for 30 seconds.”

On what this team can be if that’s happening:

Clayton: “Great.”

On the offensive end:

Clayton: “We’ve seen it last year. I don’t think it’s going to be a drop-off there. So, if we get that defensive part down, it’s going to be tough to beat us.”

On his game at point guard:

Clayton: “Just scoring, get my teammates involved and everything. I just think the Florida offense is going to be great this year. I’ll say that.”

On the balance between playmaking and scoring:

Clayton: “A scoring point guard can be a real weapon. But you obviously want to get your teammates involved too. Just the balance of that and the challenge and the balance of that.”

On how he sees that progressing:

Clayton: “It’s all just going to depend on the game. I think the whole team, we all have a great feel for what’s a good and a bad shot. So, if I have a good shot, I’m going to take it. If I got a bad shot, I’m going to pass it. Different games are going to call for different things.”

On if he’ll be an aggressive point guard:

Clayton: “For sure. I think he want us all to be aggressive on offense.”

On if there has been a noticeable difference with the competitiveness in practice:

Clayton: “I think it’s probably a little bit more competitive. We’ve been playing a lot more live in practice this year. So, analyzing things, he gives us a different perspective. You know, some of the freshmen from last year. Tommy’s a year older. We got guys that are a year older. You know what they’re doing. So I think it’s definitely more competitive.”

On using last year’s first-round loss as motivation:

Clayton: “It was kind of like all the games we lost last year, you know, just kind of take a look at it. Obviously, that was the last game of the season, so we probably had a little bit of a bitter taste. But I wouldn’t say we’re still looking at it. We know we got to tighten up on defense. So that’s what we’re going to do.”

On how they make up for Micah’s absence on the glass:

Clayton: “I think Alexis will be a big part. I think Ruben is going to be a monster on offensive glass, Condo, Tommy, you know, them hustling. So, I think just guys playing hard. You know, Micah came out every day. He just played hard. So, I think we’re just going to have to match his energy with him not being there.”

On the backcourt need to grab longer rebounds:

Clayton: “Yeah, for sure. Somebody’s got to get back, somebody got to get those long rebounds. So we got that going to figure that out.”

On Chinyelu being a great student?

Clayton: “He definitely don’t play about school. I think he’s trying to learn the world. He’s only been here for a couple of years. I think he’s still trying to learn America.”

On Chinyelu riding an electric bike:

Clayton: “He ain’t got a driver’s license yet. He’s still got a way to go.”

On if he’ll give him driver’s lessons:

Clayton: “Nah”

On Golden saying Chinyelu got his license:

Clayton: “Has he? Stay off the road.”

On his early impressions of Alijah Martin:

Clayton: “Workouts just dog, he does hard every time, I mean that’s something that you’ve got to expect. You know great offensive player, great defensive player, so it’s kind of like the rest of the guys, going to be a great addition for us, and then chemistry, you know it took a little bit of time, you know obviously you spend time in the summer going out to eat a little bit. I think we’re getting to know each other as people more,  you know what I’m saying and that’s going to help us out on the court.”

On Alijah’s physical strength:

Clayton: “Man just walling up people, getting through screens, bullying people on offense, being able to get that little extra bump, so, just being able to use his strength in that way.”

On Denzel Aberdeen’s growth on and off the court:

Clayton: “I think it helped tremendously, the A&M game last year and a couple of other games last year, but I think this year he’s going to be, it’s just going to be more of a consistent showing of those games he had this year. So I think it’s going to be a great year for him.”

On if this is the best group of guards he’s played with:

Clayton: “I don’t like to say who’s best, who is not. I think I’ve been a part of a bunch of different guard groups with different things we were great at, different things we were bad at. So, I think this is one of the groups that’s definitely a lot more well balanced up top for sure.”

On what he’s seen from freshman Isaiah Brown:

Clayton: “Just plays hard. I don’t think he’s coming in and expecting anything. He just plays hard, get a lot of offensive rebounds, crash the glass, and being physical. I think he’s adjusting well for a freshman; I think he’s going to be great.”

On Taurean Green’s role in his development as a point guard:

Clayton: “From working with Green, just some mental things, maybe come off this pick and roll here slower, come off this one fast, you know, when to go, when not to go, when to take a chance, when not to take a chance, he just also is re-iterating things I’ve kind of known before, KYP, know your personnel, know this, know that, definitely been a great help.”

On the importance of knowing when to be aggressive:

Clayton: “I think it’s going to be very important, I just kind of like I said, go with the flow of the game, so just, I think we’re gonna be good.”

 On what he learned from playing with and watching Zyon Pullin:

 Clayton: “Just that he took care of the ball greatly, he was great with that, just being low, being strong with his handle at all times, maybe take less chance, you know what I’m saying, learn that from him.”

 On whether Olivier Rioux has surprised him:

Clayton: “For sure, he’s definitely coordinated for someone his size. I think it’s only going to get better as the year goes along, so.”

On what Rioux does he do well right now:

Clayton: “Well I definitely say great around the rim, just being on defense, being a big body in there it’s kind of tough to finish over him, and I think these last couple of weeks he’s been getting off his feet a little better, dunking the ball a little more.”

On his reaction the first time he saw Rioux:

 Clayton: “I was kind of like, ‘Woah.’ I don’t think I’ve looked up to nobody like that. It was different.”

On if this team has more shooters:

Clayton: “It’s very impressive. I think that’s one of the main reasons our offense is going to be great this year, being able to space the floor, open it up inside for the bigs. I think we’re going to have a well-oiled machine on offense.”

On if anyone blocked Olivier’s shot in practice:

Clayton: “Reuben might have got him one time. I don’t know for sure though, don’t quote me on that.”

On whether he could block the 7-foot-9 Rioux:

Clayton: “No probably not. I don’t know it, depends if he’s not looking. I may go up there and snatch it.”

On working with Will Richard for the second year:

Clayton: “I think that will help a lot knowing where he likes to catch the ball, where he likes to shoot it, when he likes to get downhill and where he doesn’t so that just comes with chemistry and knowing each other and knowing each other’s games.”

On how Richard has improved his game:

Clayton: “He’s coming off screens, making some passes, making lob passes, getting us easy dunks. So, I think that threat of him … you’ve got to chase him over the screen, so just that alone, it’s creating opportunities for others.”