Why Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr.’s game is drawing comparisons to Stephen Curry

SAN FRANCISCO — It seems only fitting, given the venue of Thursday’s game, that Maryland head coach Kevin Willard would draw a comparison between Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. and an 11-time NBA All-Star.

“He reminds me a little of Steph with how skilled he is off the dribble,” Willard remarked.

That would be none other than Stephen Curry, widely regarded as the greatest shooter in NBA history. The Chase Center, where the game will be held, is adorned with images of Curry, many of them showcasing him holding one of the four championship trophies he has won with the Golden State Warriors.

Clayton Jr. is aiming for his own championship as the starting point guard for the top-seeded Florida Gators. They will face off against the fourth-seeded Maryland Terrapins on Thursday night with a spot in the Elite Eight at stake.

“For people in the Bay Area, it might seem outrageous to compare him to Steph—after all, Steph has won multiple championships and MVP awards—but from a college basketball perspective, I think the comparison holds up,” said Florida coach Todd Golden. Golden, who previously coached at the University of San Francisco from 2019 to 2022, has seen plenty of Curry’s influence firsthand. “His ability to shoot off-balance, get his shot off at different angles, and his unwavering confidence from deep—those are all very Steph-like qualities.”

Physically, they share similarities as well. Clayton Jr. stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 195 pounds, while Curry is listed at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds. Both are exceptional at shooting on the move—a skill Curry has often described as one of the most challenging to master. Neither player is deterred by long-range attempts, consistently displaying an unshakable belief in their shooting ability.

When asked about the comparison, Clayton Jr. seemed hesitant. While he acknowledged that it was flattering to be likened to Curry, he downplayed the idea that he was truly similar to someone who has “changed the game” and is regarded as one of the greatest ever.

Clayton Jr.’s performance this season certainly supports the praise he has received. Averaging 17.9 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 44.6% from the field, the senior guard has earned numerous All-America honors. He is also one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top point guard. But for those who dig deeper into advanced metrics, Clayton Jr.’s dominance becomes even more apparent.

“He shoots 48% when going left and about 38% when going right,” Willard explained. “We use (Sports Analytics Advantage) for scouting reports, and based on their data, Clayton Jr. ranks as the best player they have ever graded in terms of shooting off the dribble, whether he’s going left or right.”

One key takeaway from Willard’s analysis? Defenders should never go under screens when guarding Clayton Jr.—a lesson many have learned the hard way against Curry as well.

This glowing comparison to Curry contrasts with what UConn coach Dan Hurley said about Clayton Jr. just last week. Before the Huskies’ second-round matchup with Florida, Hurley likened Clayton Jr. to Fred VanVleet, noting his quick release and efficient scoring. Clayton Jr. promptly backed up the hype by dropping 23 points in Florida’s 77-75 victory over UConn.

Golden, however, believes Clayton Jr.’s game also bears a resemblance to Jalen Brunson. “He can handle the ball, play off the ball, get it back, and make plays. He’s a decision-maker,” Golden said.

To put things in perspective: Curry was the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft after an impressive collegiate career at Davidson. VanVleet, despite going undrafted out of Wichita State in 2016, carved out a crucial role in the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 championship run and now plays for the Houston Rockets. Brunson, a key figure for the New York Knicks, was selected 33rd overall in 2018 after leading Villanova to two NCAA titles. Clayton Jr., currently projected as a mid-to-late second-round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, is now being mentioned in the same breath as these accomplished professionals.

Clayton Jr.’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. A highly sought-after football safety in high school, he turned down scholarship offers from powerhouse programs like Notre Dame, Georgia, Tennessee, Nebraska, and Florida to pursue basketball instead. At the time, his basketball recruitment was far less prestigious, leading him to start his collegiate career at Iona. There, he earned All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference honors in his first two seasons before transferring to Florida for the 2023-24 season.

According to Alijah Martin, one of Florida’s starting guards, Clayton Jr.’s football background is evident in his physical style of play. “You can see it in how dominant he is every night,” Martin said.

What sets Clayton Jr. apart, though, is his ability to take over games. His clutch performance against UConn was a prime example—he scored 13 of his 23 points in the final eight minutes, willing Florida into the Sweet 16.

“He just took over,” said Florida center Alex Condon. “If there’s one player we want taking the last shot, it’s Walt. Getting him the ball in key moments is a priority because he has a knack for creating space and making plays.”

That being said, Condon made sure to point out that there is one arena where Clayton Jr. doesn’t quite dominate—video games.

Despite listing gaming as his “hidden talent” on Florida’s official website, Clayton Jr. was called out by Condon, who bragged about defeating him in NBA 2K during downtime last weekend in Raleigh, N.C.

Clayton Jr., however, had an explanation ready when asked who the best NBA 2K player on the team was. Without hesitation, he declared, “It’s me, by far. No question about it. I’ve taken a break from gaming this past month to focus on our tournament run, but we played last week. Alex beat me, but there was input lag on the TV. Plus, I’m a PlayStation guy playing on an Xbox. I’ve got my excuses. I’ll get him back soon.”

Condon, smiling, responded that Clayton Jr. is simply a sore loser—something that might remind fans of another ultra-competitive guard.

That quality, too, sounds a lot like Curry.