GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Utah Jazz selected Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. with the 18th overall pick in the NBA Draft on Wednesday night. Clayton averaged 18.3 points per game last season and was named most outstanding player of the NCAA Tournament after leading the Gators to the programs' third national championship.

Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. was selected 18th overall by the Washington Wizards in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. It’s expected that Clayton Jr. will be traded to the Utah Jazz in a deal that will be finalized later. Clayton Jr. becomes the first Gator drafted since 2021 (Tre Mann, No.18) and the third since 2013.

Clayton was picked 18th overall by the Utah Jazz, parlaying his super season into first-round status. Utah traded the No. 21 pick and two second-round picks with Washington just moments before the selection to move up to the 18th spot and pick Clayton, a Lake Wales native and point guard for Florida’s national championship team.