Walter Clayton Jr. facts for kids
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Clayton with Florida in 2023
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| No. 13 – Utah Jazz | |
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| Point guard / shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 6, 2003 Sebring, Florida, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 2025 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall |
| Selected by the Washington Wizards | |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2025–present | Utah Jazz |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Walter Marterry Clayton Jr. was born on March 6, 2003. He is a professional basketball player. He plays for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before turning pro, he was a star college player. He played for the Iona Gaels and the Florida Gators. In 2025, he was named a top college player, an All-American. He also won the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award. This was after he led Florida to win the national championship!
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Early Life and High School Basketball
Walter Clayton Jr. was born in Sebring, Florida. His mom, Cherie Ann Quarg, played softball and basketball. His dad, Walter Clayton Sr., played basketball and football. Both of his parents played sports in high school.
When Walter was 10, his family moved to Lake Wales, Florida. He went to Lake Wales High School first. There, he played both football and basketball. In his second year, he scored about 17.5 points per game in basketball. He also grabbed five rebounds and made 3.2 assists per game.
After his second year, Walter moved to Bartow High School. In his first year at Bartow, he averaged 15.4 points. He also had 4.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. That year, his team, the Yellow Jackets, won the Florida Class 6A state championship. Walter decided to play college basketball for Iona. He chose Iona over other schools like East Carolina and Florida A&M.
Walter was also a very good football player. He started playing football in high school because his friend, Gervon Dexter, encouraged him. He even had offers to play football from big schools. These included Florida, Notre Dame, and Tennessee.
College Basketball Career
Playing for Iona Gaels
In his first year at Iona, Walter scored 7.3 points per game. In his second year, he became a star player. He was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Year. That season, he averaged 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. After this great season, Walter decided to look for a new college team.
Joining the Florida Gators
Walter chose to transfer to the Florida Gators. He had also thought about playing for St. John's. That would have meant playing for his old coach from Iona, Rick Pitino.
In his first year at Florida, Walter averaged 17.6 points per game. He also had 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He was named Second-Team All-SEC. He helped the Gators reach the SEC Tournament Championship. This was their first time in 10 years. He also helped them get into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years. In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Walter scored 33 points in a game against Colorado.
After the 2023–24 season, Walter thought about joining the NBA Draft. But he decided to stay at Florida for his final year. This turned out to be one of the best seasons in Florida basketball history for him.
Leading Florida to a Championship
In the 2024–25 season, Walter led Florida to a 27–4 record in the regular season. He averaged 17.2 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds. During this season, he helped Florida beat No. 1 Tennessee. They also beat No. 1 Auburn on the road. This was the first time Florida had ever beaten a No. 1 team away from home. He also helped Florida achieve their best overall record and SEC record in 11 years. After the regular season, he was named a first-team All-SEC player. On March 18, 2025, Walter was named a first-team All-American.
Walter then led the Gators to win the national championship. In the final game, he made a key defensive play. He caused Houston's Emanuel Sharp to lose the ball. Walter's teammate, Alex Condon, grabbed the loose ball. This sealed the Gators' third national championship. It was their first championship since 2007. Walter was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the tournament. After the season, Walter was named the SEC Male Athlete of the Year. He was the first Florida basketball player to ever receive this award.
Professional Basketball Career
On June 25, 2025, Walter Clayton Jr. was chosen in the NBA Draft. The Washington Wizards picked him as the 18th overall player in the first round. He was then traded to the Utah Jazz. On July 2, 2025, Walter officially signed with the Jazz. He signed alongside another player, Ace Bailey.
Personal Life
Walter Clayton Jr. and his girlfriend, Tatiyana Burney, welcomed a daughter in December 2023.
