Walter Clayton Jr., a 6-2 senior guard from Florida, is a force to be reckoned with on the court. With his fearless shooting and versatility to take any shot at any moment, he is a player to watch out for in the NCAA basketball season. However, his limitations as a defender hold him back from being an elite prospect. Clayton's shooting versatility is truly impressive. He can fire off handoffs, pull up over ball screens, and rise off-balanced at the end of the clock. This season, he made 39.8% of his 3-pointers off the catch and an absurd 36.9% off the dribble, with many of his attempts coming in nail-biter situations. He also has a functional handle and incredible confidence getting into his shot off the bounce, making him a threat at the end of the clock. Clayton's clutch ability is another strength. He seems immune to pressure, as evidenced by his crazy 3-pointer in the closing minutes of Florida's second-round win over UConn and his even more absurd 3 in the Elite 8 while dribbling away from the basket to win the game. These shots are representative of his fearlessness to score in big moments. At the rim, Clayton made 60.4% of his shots, according to Synergy. He lacks explosiveness, but he showed off a crafty touch at the rim finishing amongst the trees during the tournament. However, there are concerns about Clayton's defense. He is aloof and loses focus, blowing assignments and not being a strong on-ball defender. To be a big minutes NBA player, he needs to be more locked in on defense. Additionally, he can't be trusted to be a decision-maker as he sometimes throws the ball away due to a lack of vision to read defenders. Despite these concerns, Clayton's fearless shooting and clutch ability make him a player to keep an eye on in the NCAA basketball season. With continued improvement on defense and decision-making, he could become a force to be reckoned with in the NBA as well.
