Former Iona Guard Walter Clayton Jr. Transfers to Florida

March Madness just ended but the madness in the transfer portal is never ending. The Florida Gators men’s basketball team has a new fresh face joining the team. Former Iona guard Walter Clayton Jr. announced his transfer to Florida on his social media Tuesday.

COMMITTED🐊 @GatorsMBK pic.twitter.com/kq4H5BchbT

— Walter Clayton Jr . 🦍 (@w1clayton) April 11, 2023

Coming Home

To start, the Lake Wales, Florida, native had a tough decision ahead of him following Rick Pitino’s decision to take the head coaching job St. Johns University last month. Pitino spent three seasons as head coach at Iona. This has caused the former Gaels to enter the transfer portal looking for a new home.

𝐌𝐀𝐀𝐂 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑:
No. 1 on the scoreboard, and now No. 1 in #MAAC Hoops.

Just the third sophomore to ever win the award.

Congratulations to MAAC Player of the Year, @w1clayton pic.twitter.com/19vGaFGoTI

— Iona Men’s Basketball (@IonaGaelsMBB) March 8, 2023

However, Clayton Jr. came to The Swamp to make an impression in SEC play with two more years of eligibility. He was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season.

Stats at Iona

Clayton Jr. spent two seasons playing college ball at Iona. This past season, he averaged 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Clayton Jr. was a consistent and agile scorer for Pitino and the Gaels. The 6-foot-2 guard had a .431 3-point field goal percentage and was named unanimously to a first-team All-MAAC selection.

Sophomore @w1clayton – a birthday boy today – was named All-#MAACHoops First Team in his second season with the Gaels.

Clayton Jr. leads the MAAC by appearing in the Top 10 in seven of the 11 statistical categories and leads the nation with a 94.4 FT%#GaelNation pic.twitter.com/xLHhijAIH7

— Iona Men’s Basketball (@IonaGaelsMBB) March 6, 2023

Moreover, he totaled 771 points, 207 rebounds, 154 assists, 83 steals and 30 blocked shots in 64 games over the past two seasons with the Gaels.

What’s Next?

Now that Clayton Jr. has made his way back to Florida, it’s time to work. Clayton Jr. is one of two players that transferred to Golden and the Gators this week. The first was Micah Handlogten, the 7-foot-1 center from Marshall University. The rising sophomore was named the 2023 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. The Gators hope to continue to recruit elite players as they prepare for the 2023-24 campaign.