Florida G Walter Clayton Jr. makes another All-America First Team
Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. earned another All-America Team nod on Tuesday, this time from the John R. Wooden Award Committee.
Clayton already made the First Team for the Associated Press, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, The Sporting News and the United States Basketball Writers Association — all four of which are considered prestigious. While the Wooden Award goes to the best overall player in the country, the organization also recognizes a Top 5 and full All-America team.
"The Wooden Award® All America Team was revealed on ESPN today on the Wooden Award presented by Principal Finalists Show featuring the Wooden Award All America Team and Five Finalists," reads a press release on the award's official web page. "This prestigious list includes the Wooden Award® All America Team, with five players recognized as frontrunners for one of college basketball's most esteemed honors: the Wooden Award® for the Most Outstanding Player in the United States."
The Top 5, including Clayton, will be honored at an awards show streamed on ESPN+ on Friday, April 11, at 8 p.m. ET.
"Wooden Award All America Team members must meet or exceed the standards set forth by Coach John Wooden and the Wooden Award® Steering Committee. These qualifications include academic progress toward graduation and maintaining a 2.0 cumulative GPA."
Clayton is averaging 18.1 points, 4.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. His 668 points are the third-most by a Gators in a single season and his 111 3-point field goals are fourth most in program history. He's considered a first-round draft prospect by many experts and his profile has only risen throughout the postseason.
Leading Florida to its first Final Four appearance in more than a decade already has him etched into the history books in Gainesville, and any more success could strengthen the argument that he is the greatest guard and/or player in program history.
John R. Wooden Award Men's All America Team
Johni Broome (Auburn Tigers)
Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida Gators)
L.J. Cryer (Houston Cougars)
Cooper Flagg (Duke Blue Devils)
Kam Jones (Marquette Golden Eagles)
Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton Bluejays)
Chaz Lanier (Tennessee Volunteers)
Mark Sears (Alabama Crimson Tide)
Braden Smith (Purdue Boilermakers)
John Tonje (Wisconsin Badgers)
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