The NCAA Tournament is finally in the books, which means it is time for college hoops fans to turn their collective attention toward the upcoming NBA draft, which is scheduled to take place from June 25-26.
With around two and a half months remaining until the two-round event, the draft boards have seen a flurry of changes after witnessing the results of the Big Dance, with some draft stocks soaring while others have faltered. Among those who have risen meteorically are a pair of national title-winning Florida Gators who were instrumental in their team's success.
The first of the two is guard Walter Clayton Jr., who elevated his play to stratospheric levels over the final games of the regular season and throughout the postseason. His performance at point guard gave the Gators what they needed to win both the SEC and NCAA Tournament trophies.
The other is forward Alex Condon, who, in his second year out of Austrailia, also upped his game despite dealing with injuries along the way. The only non-transfer portal player among Florida's starters, Condon was the cornerstone of one of the best frontcourts in the country.
Ahead of the draft, ESPN's experts Jonathan Givony — a UF graduate — and Jeremy Woo assembled their mock draft for this summer's selection process, projecting the two members of the Orange and Blue among the final picks.
No. 28: Walter Clayton Jr., Boston Celtics
"Clayton helped his standing significantly in the NCAA tournament, posting an efficient 30 and 34 points in the Elite Eight and national championship semifinals before struggling in the final but still helping his team cut down the nets. The 6-4 guard earned first-team All-America honors with his tremendous shotmaking prowess and all-around scoring, making big plays in clutch moments all season while creating chaos for opposing defenses with his speed and unpredictable nature," Givony notes.
"NBA teams have questions about Clayton's defense, passing and feel for the game, as he can be mistake-prone on both ends of the floor and isn't blessed with great physical tools with his average size, length and strength. Scouts are comparing his NCAA tournament performance with Shabazz Napier's a decade ago, which similarly earned him a spot in the late first round, though Clayton is taller and more explosive, but also a little more mercurial."
No. 29: Alex Condon, Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
"Condon didn't have the best NCAA tournament. He was hampered by an ankle injury and struggled at times with his lack of offensive polish and the physicality of some of the bigger frontcourts he encountered. Still, his excellent feel for the game was evident with the way he passes and plugs gaps defensively off the ball, as well as his nonstop intensity. He ultimately helped Florida win the national championship, making some important plays in timely moments," Givony offers.
"He will need to weigh the option of returning for his junior season with a possible spot in the late first or early second round, depending on how he fares in the predraft process. A team such as the Suns, who are shallow in the frontcourt, need to improve defensively and already have established scoring options, could have interest. Still, it might not be easy for him to gauge his standing by the May 28 withdrawal deadline."
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