Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. of the Florida Gators is continuing to receive preseason recognition as the basketball season approaches. He has been selected for the coaches’ First-Team All-SEC, making him the only Gators player honored among the three All-SEC teams.
In addition to this distinction, Clayton has also been included in the Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Watch List and named to the media’s First-Team All-SEC.
Last season, Clayton averaged 17.6 points per game, shooting 43.2% from the field, with a three-point shooting percentage of 36.5% and an impressive 87.7% from the free-throw line.
As he enters this season, Clayton is one of three Gators players to have surpassed 1,000 career points, joining Alijah Martin (1,476 points) and Will Richard (1,143 points).
Clayton was instrumental in leading the Gators to what many consider their best season in almost a decade. They achieved 24 wins, the highest total since the 2016-17 season when they finished with a 27-9 record during Mike White’s second year as head coach.
The Gators advanced to the SEC Tournament championship game and returned to March Madness for the first time in three years, although they were eliminated in the first round. With many key players returning this season, expectations are rising for the team.
CBS Sports recently ranked the Gators as the top basketball team in Florida, crediting Clayton and Martin for their high standing among the state’s teams.
Additionally, Florida has been ranked in the preseason polls for the first time since the 2019-20 season, currently sitting at No. 21 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
The Florida Gators are set to begin their season in just a few days, facing the USF Bulls in a neutral site matchup on Monday, November 4.
