Walter Clayton Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Walter Clayton Jr.

Clayton with Florida in 2023
No. 13 – Utah Jazz
Point guard / shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(2003-03-06) March 6, 2003 (age 22) Sebring, Florida, U.S.
High school	Lake Wales (Lake Wales, Florida) Bartow (Bartow, Florida)
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College	Iona (2021–2023) Florida (2023–2025)
NBA Draft	2025 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Pro career	2025–present
League	NBA
Career history
2025–present	Utah Jazz
Career highlights and awards
NCAA champion (2025) NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2025) Consensus first-team All-American (2025) SEC Male Athlete of the Year (2025) First-team All-SEC (2025) Second-team All-SEC (2024) SEC Tournament MVP (2025) MAAC Player of the Year (2023) First-team All-MAAC (2023)

Walter Marterry Clayton Jr., born on March 6, 2003, is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, Walter played college basketball for the Iona Gaels and the Florida Gators. He achieved great success with Florida, becoming a first-team All-American in 2025. He was also named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player (MOP) after leading Florida to a national championship victory.

Walter Clayton Jr.'s Early Life and High School Basketball Journey

Walter Marterry Clayton Jr. was born in Sebring, Florida, on March 6, 2003. His parents, Cherie Ann Quarg and Walter Clayton Sr., were also athletes. His mother played softball and basketball, and his father played basketball and football in high school.

When Walter was 10, his family moved to Lake Wales, Florida. He first attended Lake Wales High School, where he played both football and basketball. In basketball, during his sophomore year, he averaged 17.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. After his sophomore year, Walter transferred to Bartow High School.

At Bartow, he continued to excel. In his first season there, he averaged 15.4 points, 4.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. His team, the Yellow Jackets, won the Florida Class 6A state championship that year. Walter decided to play college basketball for Iona. He chose Iona over several other college offers.

Interestingly, Walter was also considered a very talented football player. He started playing football in high school because his friend, Gervon Dexter, encouraged him. He even received offers to play football from major universities like Florida and Notre Dame.

Walter Clayton Jr.'s College Basketball Career Highlights

Walter Clayton Jr. began his college basketball journey at Iona. During his freshman year, he averaged 7.3 points per game. In his sophomore season, he truly shined. 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 successful season, Walter decided to explore other options and entered the NCAA transfer portal.

He then transferred to the Florida Gators. He had also thought about joining St. John's to play for his former Iona coach, Rick Pitino.

In his first year at Florida (2023-2024), Walter averaged 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. He earned the honor of being named Second-Team All-SEC. He played a very important part in helping the Gators reach the SEC Tournament Championship for the first time in 10 years. He also helped them get into the NCAA Tournament after a 3-year break. In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Walter had an amazing game against Colorado, scoring 33 points.

After the 2023-2024 season, Walter considered entering the NBA Draft. However, he decided to withdraw and return to Florida for his senior year. This decision led to one of the best individual seasons in Florida basketball history. He helped Florida achieve an impressive 27–4 record in the regular season. He averaged 17.2 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds. During this season, Walter led Florida to big wins against No. 1 Tennessee and at No. 1 Auburn. This was the first time Florida had ever beaten a No. 1 ranked team on their home court. He also helped Florida achieve its best overall and SEC record in 11 years. After the regular season, he was recognized as 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 against Houston's Emanuel Sharp. This play helped secure the Gators' third national championship in their history. It was their first championship since 2007. Walter was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the tournament. After this incredible season, he was also named the SEC Male Athlete of the Year. He was the first Florida basketball player to ever receive this special honor.

Walter Clayton Jr.'s Professional NBA Career

On June 25, 2025, Walter Clayton Jr. took a big step in his basketball career. He was chosen by the Washington Wizards as the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft. Soon after, he was traded to the Utah Jazz. On July 2, 2025, Walter officially signed with the Jazz, joining Ace Bailey on the team. He is now playing in the NBA, living his dream as a professional basketball player.

Walter Clayton Jr.'s College Career Statistics

Here are some of Walter Clayton Jr.'s statistics from his college basketball career. These numbers show how well he played in different areas of the game.

College Statistics

Walter Clayton Jr.'s Personal Life

Walter Clayton Jr. and his girlfriend, Tatiyana Burneyhas, have a daughter born in December 2023.