Walter Clayton Jr. finds comfort as he approaches the NBA Draft, having traveled familiar paths on his journey. Standing at 6-foot-2, he played college basketball for four years before declaring for the draft at 22, aligning with careers of players like Jalen Brunson and Payton Pritchard.
While he’s not expected to make it into the top 10 picks of the 2025 NBA Draft, Clayton enjoyed a notable college career. He made a name for himself as a combo guard at Iona under Rick Pitino, later transferring to Florida where he helped the team clinch a national championship in his senior year.
Brunson went 33rd in the 2018 draft, and Pritchard was selected 26th overall in 2020. With Brunson leading the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years and Pritchard helping Boston to a championship in 2024, Clayton remains optimistic about his prospects in the NBA.
“I suppose everyone leaves some kind of path,” he mentioned to reporters, reflecting on how earlier players pave the way for those following in their footsteps.
Being one of the older players in his draft class, which is predominantly made up of 18 and 19-year-olds, Clayton is not entirely sure if that will affect his draft placement. “There’s a lot to show throughout the year. I think the film speaks volumes, so maybe it’s not a big deal,” he noted.
Reflecting on his development, Clayton credits much of his growth to Pitino. He shared that during his freshman year at Iona, he averaged 7.3 points in 16 minutes per game, but by his sophomore year, he nearly doubled his playing time and upped his average to 16.8 points over 32 games.
Clayton humorously recalls his tough training sessions under Pitino, saying, “I definitely took a lot of trips to the treadmill. Two minutes at 10 mph—that was my punishment time. I remember it well.” Despite the challenges, he played alongside former St. John’s player Danis Jenkins during the successful 2022-23 season, in which Iona finished with a 17-3 record and secured the MAAC Conference Championship.
