BREAKING: Walter Clayton Jr. Officially Invited to NBA Draft Green Room, Cementing Rising Stock and League-Wide First-Round Interest

It’s official: Walter Clayton Jr. is heading to the 2025 NBA Draft Green Room.

According to multiple reports, the Florida Gators guard has received his official invitation to attend the draft in person, a nod to his rapidly rising stock and strong standing among NBA front offices. The Green Room — reserved for top prospects expected to be selected in the first round — is not just a backstage pass. It’s a symbol of belief. A signal that your name is likely to be called sooner rather than later. And now, Clayton Jr. is on that list.

For those who’ve followed his journey, the invite isn’t surprising. It’s simply a culmination of hard work, late nights, and belief in a path less traveled. Walter Clayton Jr. wasn’t always projected to be a first-round pick. In fact, he began his career at Iona, playing under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino. After transferring to Florida and dominating in the SEC, the basketball world began to take serious notice.

This season, Clayton Jr. was a force. He led the Gators with poise and confidence, averaging 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. His three-point shooting was electric, converting at nearly 37%, and he showed clear command of pace and spacing, becoming Florida’s go-to player in clutch situations. His size — 6-foot-2 with a strong frame — may not scream prototypical NBA shooting guard, but scouts are drawn to his craftiness, his ability to score at all three levels, and his fearless attitude. Clayton isn’t just a stat sheet stuffer. He’s a competitor. He’s a winner.

The Green Room invitation is extended only to a select few. Typically, it includes 20–25 players expected to hear their name called in the first round. It allows them to sit with family, friends, and representatives under the bright lights of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will call their names and hand them the iconic draft cap. For Clayton Jr., that moment is just days away.

Beyond the honor, this invitation puts Clayton firmly in the first-round conversation. Scouts from across the league have praised his two-way potential. His strong defensive instincts, ball-handling ability, and maturity on and off the court are all traits that have resonated with front offices during the pre-draft process. His interviews reportedly went very well, and his workouts showed scouts exactly what they needed to see — a polished guard who can contribute immediately at the next level.

From a draft stock standpoint, Clayton Jr. is trending upward. He’s now projected to be selected anywhere from the late teens to the mid-20s, depending on team need and how the board shakes out. In a draft class seen as slightly weaker than usual at the top, players like Clayton — seasoned, smart, and effective — are even more valuable.

The Florida Gators program has also benefited immensely from Clayton’s success. His rise boosts the profile of Todd Golden’s program, showing future recruits that development, opportunity, and NBA visibility can happen in Gainesville. While other SEC programs might grab more headlines, Florida quietly produced a player now walking onto the NBA’s biggest stage.

And this journey hasn’t been a straight path for Clayton. Coming out of high school, he wasn’t flooded with Power Five offers. His initial college choice wasn’t a blueblood, but it gave him what he needed: a platform to learn, grow, and prove himself. Playing for Pitino helped polish his game and mentality. Transferring to Florida proved he could do it on the biggest collegiate stages.

There’s something poetic about his rise — not flashy, not hyped, just solid, sustained excellence. Clayton Jr. is the kind of player who wins over a front office by showing up every day and doing the work. And that, more than highlight reels, makes an NBA coach nod in approval.

Clayton’s story is also one of resilience. Even amid the transfer, adjusting to new systems, and handling the pressure of leading an SEC team, he never wavered. He played with the kind of confidence that couldn’t be shaken. Game after game, he proved he belonged among the best guards in the nation. Now, he’s proving he belongs among the best prospects in the world.

For Gators fans, this is a moment of pride. The Green Room invitation doesn’t just belong to Walter. It belongs to the program, to the coaches who believed in him, to the teammates who trusted him, and to the fans who chanted his name after clutch buckets in Gainesville. Florida hasn’t had a first-round pick since 2020, and Clayton could very well be next.

As for the teams considering him, there’s plenty to like. He’s NBA-ready, not just in skill but in temperament. He’s not going to back down from elite competition. He’ll take the open shot, make the right read, and defend with heart. Whether he lands with a rebuilding franchise looking for leadership or a playoff contender in need of a spark plug guard, Clayton has the tools to fit right in.

Of course, with the NBA Draft, nothing is ever guaranteed. The board can shift in real time. Trades, surprises, and late risers can change everything. But the Green Room invitation suggests one very important thing: Walter Clayton Jr. has already impressed the right people. He’s passed every test up to this point. Now, only one thing remains — hearing his name called on draft night.

The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 26th. Until then, Clayton will continue to prepare. Every workout, every rep, every conversation matters. But there’s a calm confidence surrounding him now — a belief that the hard part is done. He’s in the room. All that’s left is to walk across the stage.

And when that moment comes, it’ll be bigger than just a handshake and a hat. It’ll be the crowning of a journey that started in relative obscurity and now ends under the NBA’s brightest lights. For Walter Clayton Jr., the dream is just beginning.

He earned this. Every minute, every shot, every step.

Now, the league is watching.

And the Green Room awaits.