NBA Draft Picks to Watch in the National Championship: Will Walter Clayton Jr. Get Drafted in First Round?
NBA Draft Picks to Watch in the National Championship: Will Walter Clayton Jr. Get Drafted in First Round?
This year's National Championship game between the Houston Cougars and Florida Gators has no projected lottery players. However, there are still a few names to watch out for who should make the team this offseason.
Below, I'll discuss some of the best players in tonight's game and their projected landing spots in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Get your first month of oddschecker+ right now for just $0.99. Don't miss out on this March Madness deal!
NBA Draft Players To Watch: National Championship
1. Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida Gators)
Walter Clayton Jr. was never on the big boards out of high school. In fact, he played for Rick Pitino at Iona in the MAAC.
In his first season as a freshman, Clayton Jr. totaled 7.3 points in 16.1 minutes per game. He only started four game and took 5.2 shots per game.
However, fast-forward to his sophomore season, when Clayton Jr. added 16.8 points per game and shot 43.1% from deep. That caught the attention of the Florida Gators, who were transitioning to a competitive team under Todd Golden.
Clayton Jr. was phenomenal last season and improved even more in his senior year. He has scored 18.5 points per game this season and is now projected to be a top-20 player in this year's NBA Draft.
Many reputable mock drafts don't have Clayton Jr. cracking a lottery selection, but another clutch game from him tonight could lift him into the lottery.
No Other Player In The NCAA Tournament's Championship Is Expected To Be Drafted!
It's crazy to think about. However, no other player in the National Championship is expected to be drafted in 2025.
The Gators have just three seniors on the roster. Clayton Jr. is one of them. The other two are Alijah Martin and Will Richard.
Those two will get opportunities to play in the NBA. It's just unlikely either of those two will get drafted in two rounds of the NBA Draft.
There is a chance that Alex Condon could be an early second-round pick, but he is a 20-year-old sophomore and could definitely continue developing for the Gators over the next year or so before leaving.
On the other hand, Houston has Mylik Wilson, L.J. Cryer, and J'Won Roberts graduating this year. Those guys have been integral to Houston's success and will also get looks from the NBA. However, it's unlikely that they will be drafted.
We're Missing Out On Duke & Auburn!
The Final Four had a bunch of the top players in the field.
Duke lost to Houston with the No. 1 projected player in this year's NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg. Flagg is easily the consensus No. 1 player in the country. As a freshman, he was the best player in college basketball, winning the Wooden Award and leading Duke to the Final Four.
The NBA Draft lottery hasn't occurred yet, so where he'll wind up is unclear. However, the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets are the three top choices. All three of these teams are +500 to land Flagg. The top pick likely goes to one of those three teams.
Additionally, freshman Kon Knueppel will likely be a top-10 selection after his remarkable season with the Duke Blue Devils this year.
It's also likely Khaman Maluach will be drafted in the first round out of Duke. Ultimately, Duke will likely have two second-round selections between Sion James and Tyrese Proctor. That's how good Duke was this season.
Meanwhile, Auburn lost to Florida and has a potential first-round pick in Tahaad Pettiford. Pettiford is the lone Tiger who is projected to be drafted in the NBA Draft. Johni Broome will likely get the Drew Timme treatment but could eventually find his way into the NBA.
Helpful Links:
- All College Basketball Odds
- Latest Florida vs Houston Odds
- Best March Madness Promo Codes for NCAA Men's Basketball Championship
- Today's College Basketball Predictions, Props, and Parlays
- NBA Draft Picks to Watch in the National Championship
- March Madness Storylines to Watch: Can Houston Win First Ever National Championship?
- Best Betting Sites for the National Championship Game: Florida vs Houston
- Florida vs. Houston Pick: Expert Prediction, Latest Odds for Gators vs. Cougars in National Championship
Jason grew up an avid sports fan. His passion for sports writing grew in high school and he developed a blog that was strictly for New York Sports. From his work, you will quickly realize that he loves looking at games from an analytical and numbers perspective and hopes to provide you with that same perspective in his articles.