Former Florida basketball guard Walter Clayton Jr. is projected to go No. 25 overall to the Orlando Magic in Sports Illustrated’s final 2025 NBA mock draft of the first round.
Clayton, who led Florida to the 2025 national championship and became the first consensus first-team All-American in program history, is viewed as an NBA-ready guard with elite shooting, high basketball IQ and late-game poise.
Clayton would bring much-needed scoring punch and floor spacing to Orlando, which already made noise this offseason by acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies.
The pick makes sense: Clayton’s experience, three-level scoring ability and defensive effort fit seamlessly with the Magic’s young, playoff-ready core.
The Gators are riding a wave of national relevance under Todd Golden, and having multiple players in draft conversations only reinforces Florida’s growing identity as a next-gen NBA talent pipeline.
Here is everything Sports Illustrated writer Kevin Sweeney said about Clayton being drafted by the Magic.
What Sports Illustrated said about Clayton’s draft projection
“The Magic already added one sharpshooter this offseason in Bane and seems intent on contending in the Eastern Conference. An older guard like Clayton who can provide shooting and playmaking off the bench on an affordable contract fits well here.”
Sports Illustrated’s top 10 NBA draft picks
- Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Duke Blue Devils
- San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor Bears
- Charlotte Hornets: Tre Johnson, Texas Longhorns
- Utah Jazz: Kon Knueppel, Duke Blue Devils
- Washington Wizards: Ace Bailey, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma Sooners
- Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach, Duke Blue Devils
- Toronto Raptors: Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
- Phoenix Suns: Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina Gamecocks
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Walter Clayton Jr. projected to land with this Florida team in SI mock