The NCAA National Championship has finally commenced and the Florida Gators gave March Madness a new meaning as it took down Houston in the most anti-climactic way possible.
Be that as it may, it could not have done so without the superstardom of one Walter Clayton Jr.
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I’ll be honest, I didn’t watch a ton of college basketball this year. Operating an NBA company among other things doesn’t lend much time to chilling on the couch to catch the latest college game.
However, like most casual basketball fans, our interest piques more during March and I had to increase my college basketball IQ to prepare for my annual bragging rights in picking my bracket.
But on March 15th I saw the light. I finally got a chance to see Mr. Clayton in action from start to finish against my beloved Alabama Crimson Tide (2007 alum).
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In this game, Clayton was easily the best player on the floor — by far. What impressed me the most was his sheer fearlessness. He plays with a confident arrogance many great players innately possess, and it was on full display against one of the best teams in the nation.
Clayton however, didn’t stop there. In the SEC Championship against Tennessee, Clayton again shined scoring 22 points (15 in the second half) to give the Gators their first SEC Championship since 2014.
But it was his performance in the Elite 8 against Texas Tech that officially birthed the legend status.
After a less-than-stellar first half, Clayton did what superstars do, and he showed up when it mattered most. Florida trailed by as many as 10 with 5:26 remaining and Clayton went bonkers from that point on.
With the game hanging in the balance for Florida, Clayton scored 13 of his 22 second half points in the final five minutes including game-tying and go-ahead 3’s.
Clayton finished with 30 points and sent the Gators to the Final Four for the first time in 11 years.
But wait, it gets better.
In a SEC Final Four showdown, Florida matched up against Auburn and Clayton once again rose to the occasion to lift the Gators from the depths of despair. While trailing again in the second half (this time by nine), Clayton put on a thrilling performance scoring a game-high 34 points with 20 coming in the second half.
Clayton not only had the numbers, he was efficient (11 of 18 from the field, 5 of 8 from 3, and 7 for 7 from the free throw line) and flatout dominant.
He again was fearless and commanded the entire floor when it mattered most. His refusal to relent to a talented and exceptionally coached Auburn team is what brought me to this conclusion…
Walter Clayton Jr. is a Jamal Murray and Kemba Walker hybrid
Stay with me on this one for a moment.
Let’s first take into account the measurables. Clayton is listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. Murray is right around 6-foot-4 and on a good day, Walker is about 6-foot even. If you combine the two, you get right at 6-foot-2.
Jamal Murray was a freshman sensation at Kentucky as a 3-point sniper and scoring sensation. He parlayed that to championship success in the NBA. Photo by Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
But just watch the playstyle. Murray isn’t overly athletic, but he possesses enough wiggle, explosion, and craftiness to get his shot off as well as make plays while penetrating. Walker, while not the shooter Murray is, played with an undeniable confidence and fearlessness that helped him lead a UConn team to glory in 2011.
Kemba Walker possessed the fearlessness and leadership needed to will a storybook ending season for UConn in 2011. Photo by Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Some detractors may point to the 11-point performance from Clayton in the title game, but I don’t care. Those 11 points came in the second half when it mattered most and it was Clayton’s willingness to not shy away from the moment that helped bring the Gators back from a 12-point deficit and again, who made the shot to tie the game? Clayton.
So, I don’t care that Walter Clayton Jr. is a 22-year-old four-year college player. Outside of Cooper Flagg, he’s as good or better than anyone else in the 2025 NBA Draft and if a GM is overthinking this one, you may want to check the 2009 draft and reconsider.
Brandon Williams is the Editor-in-Chief of Ball Exclusives. You can follow him on X at TalkinWithFresh.
