Walter Clayton Jr. Explodes for 30 Points: Florida Gators Sharpshooter Emerging as 2025 NBA Draft Sleeper

Utah Jazz rookie guard Walter Clayton Jr. is turning preseason buzz into genuine rotation hopes just months after being selected 18th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. The former Florida Gators All-American poured in 20 points against San Antonio and is averaging five assists through his first three exhibition games, impressing head coach Will Hardy, who praised the 22-year-old’s “presence” and growing aggression on offense. Rookie off to a fast start • 20-point breakout vs. Spurs and steady playmaking have highlighted Clayton’s ability to run Utah’s second unit. • Hardy notes the guard is “balancing playmaking and shot-hunting” after entering camp too pass-first. • With Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson gone, minutes at both guard spots are wide-open. From Gainesville to Salt Lake Clayton became Florida’s first first-round pick since 2021 after averaging 17.9 points and leading the Gators to the national championship, where he won Tournament MOP honors. At 6-foot-3, he shot 41 % from deep in college and twice topped 30 points during March Madness, traits Utah coveted when pairing him with No. 5 pick Ace Bailey. What the rookie brings • Elite pull-up range: 210 career college threes rank 10th in UF history. • Pick-and-roll vision: early preseason assist-to-turnover ratio sits at 3-to-1. • Defensive edge: +6 wingspan and 200-pound frame help him guard both backcourt spots. • Marketability: fans have already dubbed him “Walt Lake City,” a nickname the rookie says he’ll “earn with work.” Contract and roster impact Clayton signed a four-year, $19.3 million rookie deal that guarantees $8.2 million and carries a $3.99 million cap hit this season. Utah ranked last in turnover percentage in 2024-25; steady ball-handling from the first-rounder could be the swing factor in pushing the Jazz back into play-in contention. Looking ahead With Hardy committed to letting his young backcourt “learn on the fly,” Clayton is tracking toward 20-plus minutes a night once the regular season tips. If the preseason sample holds, expect the Sebring, FL native to climb rookie-of-the-year ladders, keep “Walt Lake City” trending, and give Utah the two-way floor general its rebuild has lacked since Donovan Mitchell’s departure.