Gator Nation reacts to Day 1 of 2025 NBA draft

The 2025 NBA draft is here, and Gator Nation is ready to see up to three Florida players drafted in this year's amateur draft.Walter Clayton Jr.

appears to be locked into a first-round selection, with many linking him to the Miami Heat at pick No.

20.

Anyone can slide on draft day, but the Gators point guard is poised to be the program's first first-round selection since Tre Mann in 2021.

Mann ended a near-decade-long drought for Florida after Bradley Beal went third overall in the 2012 draft.Alijah Martin is also likely to be selected, but is a projected second-round pick, which takes place on Thursday.

A scrappy defender who proved he could score consistently with Florida, Martin made his return to the Final Four and helped lead the Gators to a national championship.

Richard might be on the wrong side of the bubble here, but he's going to get a phone call or two shortly if the draft concludes and he's still available.Here's what Florida Gators experts and fans are saying about Day 1 of the 2025 NBA draft.

(LAST UPDATED: 7:23 p.m.

ET)Clayton is with his family before the draftWalter Clayton Jr.

getting draft ready with his daughter pic.twitter.com/uz0EibxsbB NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 25, 2025Fans really want him on their favorite teamMe trying to make Walter Clayton Jr.

fall to the 25th pick: pic.twitter.com/BUoX9LkOn2 ORLmuse (@ORLmuse) June 24, 2025Florida's point guard is a media starWho are Walter Clayton Jr.'s G.O.A.T.S.

of the South? He chopped it up with @TaylorRooks on the #NBADraft red carpet pic.twitter.com/STzzM7k40a NBA TV (@NBATV) June 25, 2025No apologies necessaryWatched this man play in person 30+ times.

Sat outside the arena for hours at a time weekly to watch this guy absolutely fry whoever hes playing.

Cant wait to watch the goat Walter Clayton Jr succeed wherever he lands tonight.

Apologies for glazing.

pic.twitter.com/fA9vJ1Uqxs JFrang (@JFRANK319) June 25, 2025First round projections keep climbingJust saw a mock draft that had the Grizzlies taking Walter Clayton Jr.

at 16.

Savage (@MSavage901) June 25, 2025Clayton will ball anywhere he landsWATCH: "He's going to continue being a great player no matter what team he lands on."@BartowBasketbal alum Walter Clayton, Jr.

(@w1clayton) will hear his name called tonight in the NBA Draft.

Bartow is excited to see where the guy who connects everyone together will land.

pic.twitter.com/Pwk7nLmr8E Mark Skol, Jr.

(@markskoljrTV) June 25, 2025Stay tuned for more updatesCheck back with Gators Wire as the draft continues for more social media reactions.

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