Walter Clayton Jr.: A Fearless Shooter with Room for Improvement on Defense

Walter Clayton Jr., a 6-2 senior guard from Florida, is a fearless shooter with the versatility to take any shot at any moment. Despite his limitations as a defender, he is a player to watch out for in the NCAA basketball season. 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 shooting ability and clutch play make him a player to keep an eye on in the NCAA basketball season. With his fearless approach to taking shots and his ability to make them count in big moments, he could be a force to be reckoned with in the future.