Tag: Walter Clayton

Pair of Gators prepare for G League Elite Camp this weekend

Zyon Pullin and Walter Clayton Jr. will be working out this weekend in hopes of elevating their NBA draft chances.

The Florida basketball program will be represented by two Gators this year at the G League Elite Camp in Chicago. Guards [autotag]Zyon Pullin[/autotag] and [autotag]Walter Clayton Jr[/autotag]. — the latter of which can still return to the team if the draft waters seem too cold — will showcase their talents in front of NBA coaches and front-office officials from May 11-12.

Clayton was included in the initial announcement on Saturday, which put him among the first 44 players named to the camp. Pullin got the call on Monday, pairing him up with his backcourt teammate from last season. The two were omitted from the NBA draft combine invitation list, but a strong showing this weekend could elevate them into consideration.

The two were added to Florida’s roster ahead of the 2023-24 campaign via the transfer portal as a part of [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag]’s successful personnel reload. The dynamic duo was largely responsible for the Gators’ highest-scoring season in program history, as well as getting the program back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons.

The Orange and Blue’s 24-12 overall record was the best since the 2016-17 campaign (27-9) and it reached its first SEC Tournament finals since 2014.

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Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. talks ahead of Texas A&M matchup

Here’s what Florida’s top guard had to say ahead of the big road matchup in College Station on Saturday.

The month of January was not an easy one for the Florida basketball team, which faced a difficult lineup of competitors to open the Southeastern Conference schedule. The good news is that the Gators finished it off with a signature win over the Kentucky Wildcats on Wednesday, 94-91.

The victory was the first for the program on the road against a top-10 team since 2003, stretching back to a Billy Donovan victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville. It also marked a possible turning point for a squad that has worked hard to create team chemistry after being assembled from players from the transfer portal.

One of those student-athletes is guard Walter Clayton Jr., who has been a key cog in the wheel for the Orange and Blue this season. Take a look at what he had to offer ahead of the next game against the Texas A&M Aggies.

What Walter Clayton had to offer ahead of Arkansas Razorbacks game

Florida basketball’s leading scorer spoke about his team and the upcoming matchup with Arkansas on Friday.

Florida basketball is off to a rough start to the 2024 calendar year having dropped its first two games — both of the Southeastern Conference variety — and is quickly tumbling out of the major bracketologies.

The good news for the Gators is that they return home for their next matchup, where the Orange and Blue has only lost one game in six tries. Of course, that lone defeat came last weekend at the hands of the Kentucky Wildcats.

The Arkansas Razorbacks are the next team on the agenda — a program much like Florida that has struggled to earn respect, albeit with much higher expectations than the Gators. On Friday ahead of the game guard [autotag]Walter Clayton[/autotag] Jr., who has carried the team on his shoulders in conference play, spoke with the media regarding his team and the upcoming opponent.

Take a look below at everything Clayton had to offer ahead of Florida’s third SEC matchup of the year coming against Arkansas at home.

Breaking down Kentucky Wildcats loss with Zyon Pullin, Walter Clayton

Here’s what Saturday’s two game-high scorers had to say about the tough home loss.

The Southeastern Conference schedule-opening matchup between the Florida Gators and Kentucky Wildcats inside the O’Connell Center was an exciting game to watch, but unfortunately for the Gator Nation, the home team came up short in an 87-85 defeat.

The Orange and Blue led for a lion’s share of the game but was not able to come through in the clutch, going ice cold from both the free-throw line as well as beyond the arc. It was not for lack of effort on the part of two members of Todd Golden’s gang.

Guards [autotag]Zyon Pullin[/autotag] and [autotag]Walter Clayton[/autotag] both dropped a game-high 23 points for the losing cause while combining for 9 of 11 from the charity stripe — a stark contrast to their teammates. Playing 34 minutes apiece as well, the dynamic duo simply was not enough to overcome a top-10 team.

After the game, the two talked to the media and answered some of the pressing questions asked by members of the scrum. Take a look below at what they had to offer.

Florida’s game-high scorer talks win over East Carolina

Here’s what Florida basketball’s top scorer had to say about last night’s game.

Florida basketball escaped with a 70-65 win over the East Carolina Pirates on Thursday night in the Florida Tip-Off event held in Lakeland. The victory improved the Gators to 7-3 on the season along with a 3-0 mark in December after a tough opening month.

The Orange and Blue’s top contributor, Walter Clayton Jr, led all scorers with 22 points, while three other Gators notched double digits. Florida’s largest lead was just 11 points with 2:54 remaining in the first half but it still managed to go wire-to-wire in this one, never surrending its advantage.

Following the win, Florida’s standout guard spoke with the sports media about his performance. Take a look below at an abridged version of that Q&A on Thursday night.