Evaluating Will Richard, Walter Clayton Jr., and LJ Cryer in the 2025 National Championship Game

April 7th, 2025

Today, I took the time to watch Florida and Houston square off against each other in the 2025 National Championship game. Both teams got off to a slow star, but Houston received some unexpectedly strong bench play from Ja’Vier Francis and Mylik Wilson in the first half. Florida was able to close the gap due to the consistently strong play of Will Richard, and they also had strong second half performances from a variety of players, which helped the Gators get the win to defeat the Houston Cougars in order to win the championship. Here are my thoughts on how Will Richard and other various prospects fared in this game, as well as where they may currently stack up as prospects for the NBA.

Florida’s Will Richard scored 18 points, made 4 threes, and had 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block to lead his team to a 65-63 win over Houston to help get Florida the National Championship. (Photo: Bob Donnan/Imagn Images, via On3.com)

Will Richard had a strong showing to help lead his team to a win over Houston. He did a very good job of shooting and scoring the basketball, particularly from beyond the arc. He showed a knack for making smooth spot-up threes, particularly from the corners. He also ran off of a ball screen to make a baseline mid-range jumper. Plus, he also drew free throws on a put back due to making a good hustle play and having a good motor.

He also was able to show some passing skills by making a pass on the break to get the ball to a teammate, and the mid-range shot he made after running off of a ball screen indicated his promising ability to score as a movement shooter. However, Richard did commit a couple of turnovers, as he threw a hasty pass that got intercepted once, and he also set an illegal, moving screen off the ball another time.

Also, Richard did a great job of rebounding and defending in this game. He would poke balls and jump on loose balls to help his team get steals, and he also blocked a three-point shot out of bounds.

In general, Richard played very well in his team’s win over Houston, and he is skilled, mobile combo guard that thrived at making plays on both ends of the floor. He quietly had a very good season this year, and he has shown the skills to warrant a first round selection in this year’s NBA draft.

Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. scored 11 points, and had 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block in his team’s 65-63 win over Houston to help his team win the National Championship, and Clayton is a first round prospect that looks to be arguably his team’s best prospect for the NBA. (Photo: Bob Donnan/Imagn Images, via Sports Illustrated)

Walter Clayton Jr. quietly had a decent showing in his team’s win over Houston. He had his ups and downs, as he got off to a slow start, but he passed the ball well in the first half, despite struggling to make shots early on. He eventually was able to find his scoring touch when his team needed him the most, and he also defended well to help his team get the victory.

Clayton was able to score on a smart cut to the hoop while getting fouled, as he showed that he can ably score on the move in opportune moments. He also showed a satisfactory ability to score off the dribble, and he was able to glide in to score at the rim while getting an extra free throw late in the game.

Plus, he also ran quickly off of a ball screen to make a three-pointer off the catch to showcase his shooting skills and ability to make shots as a movement shooter. However, Clayton didn’t shoot nearly as well as he did against Auburn, as he would often miss on spot-up threes from beyond the arc.

He also showed off good playmaking skills in this game. Clayton showed a knack for pushing the pace to find open teammates on the move, and he would throw accurate interior passes to rack up assists. Sometimes though, he would try to throw fancy no-look, hook passes that would end up sailing out of bounds, which led him to commit a couple of turnovers.

Also, he did a good job of rebounding and defending in this game. Clayton was able to block a three-point shot out of bounds. He also poked a ball away to get a steal. Plus, he also contested outside shots to force a miss. His only apparent defensive miscue was when he committed a foul when he collided into an opponent off the ball, as he appeared to push him on that possession.

In summary, Walter Clayton Jr. is an agile, skilled playmaker that can shoot and pass the basketball, and though he had an off night, his tremendous tournament combined with his skills and intangibles could make him a solid pick for an NBA team in the first round of the 2025 draft.

Houston’s LJ Cryer scored 19 points, made 4 threes, and had 6 rebounds in his team’s 65-63 loss to Florida, and Cryer’s strong tournament play has helped establish him as a legitimate second round prospect for the 2025 draft. (Photo: Bob Donnan/Imagn Images, via Sports Illustrated)

LJ Cryer had a decent showing in his team’s tough loss to Florida. Though he didn’t play quite as well as he did against Duke, Cryer still had some very solid moments, especially in the second half to help keep his team in the game.

He showed a decent ability to knock down outside shots to help his team on offense. Cryer has solid footwork, and he was able to make threes both off the catch and dribble, and he also was able to make a variety of shots off the dribble. On the downside, he was quite streaky with his jump shot, and he struggled to make them consistently, as he especially had trouble establishing his rhythm in the first half.

As a playmaker, he looked to be fairly average in this game. Cryer was able to notch a couple of assists, including one where he threw an interior pass to find a roll man on the move. However, sometimes he would make careless decisions off the dribble and with the ball in his hands, which led him to commit several turnovers.

Also, Cryer did a good job of rebounding the basketball. He also played decent defense in this game. He was able to intercept an errant pass to get a steal. Sometimes though, he and his team would struggle to defend in situations involving screens and cuts, which would lead his team to give up baskets.

Overall, Cryer didn’t quite play as well as expected, but he still was able to make some very tough shots on offense. He had strong tournament overall, and he could be a good second round pick for an NBA team in the 2025 draft, as he could project well as a shooter and scorer off the bench at the NBA level.

Ja’Vier Francis had a solid showing in his team’s loss to Florida. He is a tremendously athletic forward that excelled at making plays in the paint on both ends of the floor due to having a very good blend of athleticism, motor, and low post scoring skills. Francis was able to catch the ball on a roll to score on a thunderous dunk in traffic. He also showed deft footwork and scoring touch to excel as a scorer out of the post.

Also Francis rebounded the ball well. He also played adequate defense in this game. Francis was able to rotate to block a shot to a teammate. When defending an opposing ball handler, he used his length and positioning to help force a passing turnover. However, he would sometimes play too aggressively, which would lead him to pick up fouls, and he ended up fouling out of this game. Overall, Francis played well in his team’s tough loss to Florida, and while he will need to add a reliable outside shot to his arsenal and extend his shooting range, he is a promising prospect that could be a key player to watch in college basketball next season.

Mylik Wilson was able to give his team a boost off the bench in his team’s tough loss to Florida. He thrived as a scorer off the dribble and on fast breaks. He ran the floor and caught a lob to score on a high-flying, alley-oop dunk to showcase his solid athletic gifts. He also jumped a pass to get a steal and he then quickly scored on the break. He also used a spin move to score another time. In addition, Wilson was able to make a bank three off the dribble. On the downside, he struggled to make mid-range jumpers, but he generally excelled as a shot maker on offense.

He also was able to make a drive and kick pass to get an assist, and he also was able to chip in on the glass. Wilson also managed to rotate to block a shot to help his team prevent an opponent from scoring on the break. Overall, Wilson played well in his team’s loss, and while he will need to show NBA teams that he can reliably run the point at higher levels, he is an athletic, energetic combo guard that has shown that he has what it takes to make it to the NBA.

Alex Condon had a decent showing in his team’s win over Houston. He generally excelled as a finisher around the basket, as he would score on dunks on motion plays as well as out of the post. He also showed an adequate ability to score out of the post, and he also managed to use a pump fake to score once, but he also would sometimes would miss on contested shots around the basket.

He also was able to set a fairly solid off-ball screen to help his teammate to get an open jump shot to score on offense. He also managed to pass out of a double team to find an open shooter. However, he also really struggled to handle the basketball early in the first half, and he ended up committing a handful of traveling violations.

Also, he did a decent job of rebounding the basketball. He also defended well, as he was active in blocking shots and getting his hands on balls to get steals and deflections, and he would use his size to get stops when defending in the post. Sometimes though, he wouldn’t always be in position, and he would occasionally commit reach-in fouls.

Overall, Condon played fairly well in his team’s win over Houston, and he is a mobile, energetic big man that could be a solid second round pick in the 2025 draft. He’ll need to add a reliable outside shot to his arsenal and improve his handles, but his ability to make hustle plays, along with having better than advertised passing and defensive skills could enable him to be a solid rotational big man in the NBA.

Thomas Haugh played fairly well in his team’s win over Houston. He is an agile, skilled forward that excelled at scoring on aggressive drives to the hoop, and he also passed the ball well, due to possessing solid court vision. He also managed to run in to score on a quick put back dunk. He also was fairly active on the boards, and he also managed to block a three to a teammate to help create a fast break opportunity for his team. Overall, Haugh played well in this game, and he is a promising prospect that projects to be a versatile role player in the NBA.

Joseph Tugler had his ups and downs. He was able to show that he can score off the dribble as well as out of the post, but he didn’t take many shots in this game, and he didn’t look to take jumpers from outside of the paint. He showed some playmaking skills, as he was able to pass out of the post, and he also set a solid off-ball screen to help his teammate an open jump shot to score on offense.

Also, he did a decent job of rebounding the basketball. Defensively, he looked to be fairly average in this game. Tugler was able to rotate to make a fantastic block on a dunk attempt off the dribble to help his team protect the paint. He also contested a deep three to force a miss. However, he would play too aggressively and pick up fouls, and Tugler ended up fouling out of this game.

Overall, Tugler is a strong, athletic combo forward whose defense is ahead of his offense. He has the potential to be a defensive stopper at the next level, but he will need to expand his skill set offensively and improve his discipline on the defensive end. Currently, he is a second round prospect for the 2025 draft, but whether or not if he succeeds at the NBA level could hinge on the development of his jump shot.

Denzel Aberdeen had a solid showing, as he provided his team with a boost to help them defeat Houston in this game. Aberdeen showed a knack for scoring on strong drives to the hoop. He also drove in and used a pump fake before making a nifty shovel pass to set up a scoring chance for a teammate down low. Overall, Aberdeen was able to make an impact to help his team get the win in this game, and he is a promising prospect that could be a key player to watch in college basketball next season.

J’Wan Roberts had his ups and downs in his team’s loss to Florida. He was active on the boards, and he excelled as an offensive rebounder and interior defender, and he did a great job of blocking shots. Though he showed the ability to score on strong moves out of the post and off the dribble, he struggled to find a consistent scoring touch, and Roberts struggled to make shots in this game.

Overall though, Roberts had a very good tournament, and while he will need to add a reliable outside shot to his arsenal, he is a strong, athletic combo forward whose physicality and post presence could enable him to either make it to the NBA, or to at least carve out a very good playing career in professional basketball.

Alijah Martin struggled to consistently make shots in this game, but despite not shooting well, he was able to make a spot-up three off the catch, drew free throws on an aggressive drive to the hoop, and he also made a smart cut to score another time. He struggled to make threes and sometimes would get his shots blocked, but Martin was able to make enough shots to stay on the floor on offense. He also was able to grab an offensive rebound. Defensively, he also rotated to the post to poke a ball away to nearly get a steal once. Overall, though Martin didn’t have a great game, he is a very athletic combo guard that has the skills to make it to the NBA, or he could at least end up carving out a very good playing career in professional basketball.

Emanuel Sharp did not play very well in his team’s loss to Florida. That said, despite having a bad shooting night, he was able to make some tough shots off the dribble, and he is a three-level scorer that can knock down difficult shots. However, he missed on a lot of makeable spot-up threes. He was able to throw an accurate lob to set up a score for a teammate in transition, but Sharp struggled to take care of the basketball and with his decision-making, which led him to be turnover prone. Overall, Sharp didn’t have a great game, but still, he is a skilled combo guard that could project into a shooting specialist role at the NBA level.

Milos Uzan did not play very well in his team’s loss to Florida. He showed a promising floater game, but he tended to miss on too many jump shots, as he struggled to make mid-range jumpers or threes, and he would take a lot of rushed shots that led to misses. He rebounded well for a player his size, but he didn’t really add much as a playmaker or defender in this game. Overall, he didn’t have his best game, and he will need to improve his shot selection and decision-making skills moving forward. He will likely need to stay in school to hone his game, but with some development, he could end up being a game-managing, backup point guard in the NBA someday.

All in all, those are my thoughts on how Will Richard, Walter Clayton Jr., and other various prospects fared in this game. Thanks for reading.