Walter Clayton Jr., Florida Gators standout guard, stepped into the NBA spotlight last night. A question from one of his crew quickly shifted focus to his personal life: “What’s it gonna mean to have this little one with you tonight?”
He emotionally responded, “Man, it will mean everything, this is the motivation right here, she is the one.” The moment that was shared by NBA Draft on X has raised curiosity about whether the former college star has a child.
The kid in question is Leilani Leigh Clayton, who was born Dec 11, 2023, during her father’s junior season at Florida. The draft night exchange confirmed what had been a secret for Clayton’s fans: He is a father, with an adorable daughter.
As he put it in one of his interviews late last year:
“She is depending on me to provide for her. I’m still kind of figuring out the whole father thing. Just, you know, how to be there for her every day, being there as much as I possibly can. So it’s just a lot of extra motivation.”
Details about his family life have rarely been disclosed, as the guard kept his world out of the public eye.
Florida teammate Alex Condon praised his ability to juggle responsibilities, telling reporters:
“He does a great job balancing being a father and being one of the best basketball players in the country.”
Walter Clayton Jr. getting draft ready with his daughter 🥹🫶 pic.twitter.com/uz0EibxsbB
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 25, 2025
On draft night, Leilani was there with her father, who waited for his name to be called. The Washington Wizards selected him as 18th overall, though his rights were soon traded to the Utah Jazz, pairing him with their earlier pick Ace Bailey and marking the start of his professional journey.
How Walter Clayton Jr. Rose from Florida Roots to NBA Prospect
Clayton Jr.’s basketball journey began in Sebring, Florida. He was raised in a family rooted in sports; his mother, Cherie Ann Quarg, was a high school athlete in softball and basketball, while his father, Walter Clayton Sr., also played basketball. The family later relocated to Lake Wales, Florida, paving the way for his athletic development.
At Lake Wales High School, he initially split his talents between football and basketball, excelling as a defensive back with scholarship offers from powerhouse programs like Florida, Georgia, and Notre Dame. After his sophomore year, he chose basketball and transferred to Bartow High School.
He led the team to consecutive Florida Class 6A state championships; however, the COVID-19 pandemic caused him a setback in his recruitment, limiting his exposure on the AAU circuit.
Major programs pushed for him, but he ended up landing at Iona, a mid-major school under coach Rick Pitino, where he had a total average of 15.4 points per game in the 2022-2023 season.
Looking for a bigger stage, he opted for the portal, transferred to Florida for the 2023-2024 season, where he posted 18.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
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