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Walter Clayton is a First-Team All-American, the first ever for Florida Basketball

Despite some past Gator greats, Clayton is the first for Florida to make it to the First-Team
ByBenjamin Henderson|
Mar 8, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) dribbles the ball while Mississippi Rebels guard Jaylen Murray (5) defends during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Mar 8, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) dribbles the ball while Mississippi Rebels guard Jaylen Murray (5) defends during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

When one thinks of all the legendary players to play for Florida Basketball, players like Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Scottie Wilbekin, Udonis Haslem, and Neal Walk might come to mind. All of these players were named All-American's during their time in Gainesville and all hold a special place in the hearts of Gator fans.

Believe it or not, none were named a First-Team All-American, and Walter Clayton can now claim to be the first Gator ever to achieve such an honor.

Florida Basketball: Number One

Clayton was named by Sporting News a First-Team All-American alongside Auburn's Johni Broome, Duke's Cooper Flag, Alabama's Mark Sears, and Purdue's Braden Smith.

Ironically, Clayton's scoring is down a tick in 2025, averaging 17.2 points compared to 17.6 points last season. But his assists have jumped from 2.6 per game to 4.3 per game, and he has cut down on his fouls per game to be under two for the first time in his career.

And while Clayton's overall scoring is down, he has hit some massive shots against a plethora of top-25 teams combined with improved effort on the defensive end to help lead the Gators to a 27-4 regular season, and Florida appears to be in line to be a one-seed come Selection Sunday.

Clayton's selection continues the topsy-turvy nature of whether or not the nation as a whole wants to give Florida respect. The Gators have been subject to drops in the AP Poll their counterparts haven't experienced, and Todd Golden was somehow not named SEC Coach of the Year earlier this week.

But for Clayton to breakthrough and become the first Gator ever to be named a First-Team All-American is a sign that there is at least some contingent of media members who believe in Florida in 2025 as the Gators look to make their first Final Four since 2014.

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