For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide.
Walter Clayton Jr., G, Florida
Height: 6-3 • Weight: 195 • Class: Senior • Age: 22
Summary: Clayton is a fearless shooter with the versatility to take any shot at any moment. But his limitations as a defender hold him back from being an elite prospect.
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Comparisons: Ben Gordon, Jordan Clarkson
Strengths
Shooting versatility: There isn’t a shot he isn’t comfortable taking. Firing off handoffs, pulling up over ball screens, rising off-balanced at the end of the clock — it truly doesn’t matter, he can thrive. This season he made 40% of his 3s off the catch and an absurd 37.1% off the dribble.
Shot creation: While he’s not a primary creator, he can get a bucket at the end of the clock with a functional handle and incredible confidence getting into his shot off the bounce.
Clutch: It’s almost like he’s immune to pressure. Clayton hit a crazy 3-pointer in the closing minutes of Florida’s second-round win over UConn, then followed up with an 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.
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Concerns
Defense: He’s aloof. He loses focus. He blows assignments. He’s not a strong on-ball defender. Is shot-making prowess going to be enough to overcome this flaw? Perhaps to earn a role. But to be a big minutes NBA player he needs to be more locked in on D.
Playmaking: He can’t be trusted to be a decision-maker. Sometimes he just throws the ball away because he lacks vision to read defenders.
At-rim finishing: He made only 51.3% of his layups in the half court, per Synergy. He lacks explosiveness and isn’t a great finisher through contact.
For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide.
