I’m next Steph Curry tipped to make $51 million after pulling out of NBA Draft to win March Madness
Walter Clayton Jr. could be in the NBA already.
The Florida guard declared for the 2024 Draft but pulled out and returned to college in an attempt to boost his stock.
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It might be the best decision he ever made.
On Monday, Clayton was crowned the Most Outstanding Player after an awe-inspiring March Madness campaign ended with a thrilling comeback win over Houston.
"I've been saying it for a while now," Clayton told reporters in San Antonio. "Just the togetherness of our team, the love we all got for each other, allows us not to break apart during adversity."
Clayton scored 11 points in the Championship game but had already enhanced his reputation with a history-making run.
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He managed a career-high 34 as the No.1 Gators beat Auburn, 79-73 in the Final Four.
The future NBA star is the first man to drop 30-plus points in a national semifinal since Carmelo Anthony for Syracuse in 2003 and has been compared to to basketball great Steph Curry.
He went 11-of-18 shooting, including 5 for 8 from beyond the arc, making him just the fifth player all-time to make 30 points and hit five 3s in the Final Four.
Villanova's Donte DiVincenzo (2018), Maryland's Juan Dixon (2002), Michigan's Glen Rice (1989) and UNLV's Freddie Banks (1987) are the others.
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Clayton also scored 30 against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. The list of names who have passed that mark in consecutive games at that stage is short: Jerry West (West Virginia, 1959), Wilt Chamberlain (Kansas, 1957), Clyde Lovellette (Kansas, 1952), Larry Bird (Indiana State, 1979).
"He's been doing it for us all year, and I'm just really happy for him that he's finally starting to get the recognition that he deserves," head coach Todd Golden said of Clayton
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"He's just a great, great young man, great leader, someone that commands a lot of respect from his teammates, and they love him. Does a great job of sharing the sugar and giving a lot of credit to his teammates that put him in that position.
"And you know when you have a guy like that -- that's a hard worker, that's coachable and brings great effort every day -- it just bleeds through the rest of your program."
Clayton -- whose dad played college football and basketball and also has a softball star mom -- has done things the hard way.
Overlooked out of high school, he had more offers to play football but the 6ft 3in prospect instead went to Iona and spent two years with the Gaels before transferring to Florida.
Had he turned pro last year, he would likely have been a second-round pick.
Now? The sky is the limit.
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"Walt led his high school team to back-to-back state championships," Rick Pitino -- the 22-year-old's coach at Iona -- told CBS.
"He helped Iona to win league and tournament championships. Now, he's playing in the national championship game -- and going from second round to the lottery."
Draft analysts are now predicting big things for Clayton.
"A week ago against UConn, he's hitting a fadeaway 3 off balance to clinch it, sidestep 3 prior to that," of Yahoo Sports.
"I mean, he was amazing in the closing minutes of that game against UConn. And then he does it again in the Elite Eight.
"Walter Clayton, man, I had him ranked in the 50s. I'm moving him up about 15-20 spots."
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Second-round pick Bronny James earned a $7.9 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Alex Sarr got a four-year deal worth $51,036,398 from the Washington Wizards after being selected second overall.
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