Walter Clayton Jr. Lived the dream of any college basketball player on Monday night and became a national champion with his Florida Gators.
But when Clayton got out of Bartow High School in Florida, he tried to choose between playing football or basketball in college. He had offers from Gators, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Nebraska and West Virginia to play football, but he eventually chose basketball and followed Rick Pitino to Iona.
After two seasons and Pitino that took St. John’s job, Clayton transferred to Todd Golden’s program in Gainesville to the 2023-24 campaign. Two years later, Gators are back on top with a 65-63 national title gain over Houston Cougars.
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Florida Gators Guard Walter Clayton Jr. celebrates after winning the 2025 National Championship Game on Alamodome. (Bob Donnan/Imag photos)
The transfer portal as well as name, image and equality options have enabled Star College athletes in the middle of the big schools to advance to big-time programs with the chance to play immediately and build their personal brand on and off the field.
Clayton is just one of many examples and he could afford future athletes who could be in the same situation as he was before the season 2023-24, making a decision that changed his life.
“The only advice I can really give is to continue working and trusting your work,” Clayton told Pakinomist Digital while working with a festive “shift” at Raising Cane’s with Gators teammates Alijah Martin and Thomas Haugh in Gainesville.
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“Nothing will be given to you. When I came to Florida, they were 16-17. It was clearly it was [Todd] Golden’s first year and he would make things better. He didn’t promise me anything. I told him to come here and I had to work. So nothing is guaranteed to you. Just keep working. “
Clayton played for the university of his home state and quickly became a rallying point for the offense, an average of 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He originally declared the NBA draft, but decided he had unfinished business in Gainesville, who paid for Monday night.
Florida Gators Guard Walter Clayton Jr. Celebrates after winning the 2025 National Championship at Alamodome. (Bob Donnan/Imag photos)
Clayton had one of the best seasons in Florida Basketball History, which helped Gators to their best overall record in program history of 27-4, also a SEC record. He was named a first team of All-American after an average of 17.2 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds, and the NBA draft is ringing again.
Due to his star status, Clayton’s NIL value is $ 1.2 million, according to On3.
Another example of how beneficial the portal and zero can be is with Martin who helped Florida Atlantic University reach the last four two years ago. His fifth and final college season was with Gators this year after four seasons with the owls, and he produced his best year with a career high 14.4 points per year. Fight as a starting guard along with Clayton.
Alijah Martin, Walter Clayton Jr. And Thomas Hough works a festive “shift” by raising Cane’s April 10, 2025 in Gainesville, Fla. (Gerardo Mora/Getty Images to Raising Cane’s)
So even though there are deteriorates of the new university sports system, there are benefits to athletes like Clayton.
