Florida basketball senior point guard Walter Clayton was the engine that made UF's high-powered offense run, pushing the ball up floor while often either finishing at the rim, dishing to teammates or sinking pull-up 3-pointers. On Wednesday, the 6-foot-3 Clayton was named a first-team All-American by the Sporting News , an honor befitting the Iona transfer and Lake Wales native. Clayton leads the Florida Gators in scoring (17.2 ppg), assists (129) and 3-pointers made (84) this season. He's scored 1,150 points and sank 177 3-pointers over two seasons at Florida since transferring in from Iona before the start of the 2023-24 season. Clayton is UF's first first-team All-American in program history and first since 2013-14, when three UF players earned All-American honors. Point guard Scottie Wilbekin earned AP third-team, Sporting News third team and NABC All-America third team All-American selections Center Patric Young and forward Casey Prather were also honorable mention AP All-Americans that season, while Prather was named a Wooden All-America. Florida forwards Al Horford and Joakim Noah earned second and third-team All-America honors by various organizations in 2007. “Definitely surprising that’s the first in history," Clayton said. "I would have thought one of them guys, Al Horford, Joakim, (Corey) Brewer, (Taurean) Green one of them would have got it so, it’s a surprise but just thankful, thankful for all my teammates, all my coaches.” Earlier this week, Clayton earned first-team, All-SEC honors from the coaches, USA Today and the AP . He's also been named one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, given to college basketball's best point guard . "He’s done an incredible job leading our team, but also the success of our team," Florida basketball coach Todd Golden said. "If we weren't a top three, four team in America, Walt's not getting that honor ... "The best part about is I think Walt understands that, and I think he is grateful for the support of his teammates and the way that guys have played all year to provide him the opportunity to win such a big honor.”
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