Where Florida basketball players stand on ESPN's 2025 NBA draft big board update

At the end of May, ESPN had all three of Florida's starting backcourt members inside the top 80 on its 2025 NBA draft big board. Nearly two months later, Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard all sit in different spots on ESPN's big board with the draft coming up on Wednesday.

Clayton is the only member of the trio to move down. The 22-year-old point guard dropped one spot to No. 28 on the big board due to the rise of Washington State small forward Cedric Coward, who benefits from a "mystery man status," after only playing six games this season. Clayton is in the same spot he was two months ago — a fringe first-round pick with an early-to-mid first-round floor. If a team is looking to add a three-point threat that could develop into a starter, Clayton is their guy.

Martin moved up three spots to No. 58 thanks to three international professional players' withdrawal from the draft — 20-year-old Senegalese center Mouhamed "Momo" Faye, 19-year-old Greek forward Avdalas Neoklis (Virginia Tech) and 18-year-old Croatian big man Michael Ruzic. The defensive specialist proved that he could contribute regularly on offense and came up clutch often for Florida. He's still a fringe second-rounder, but it's better to be inside that top-60 bubble than outside.

Richard is still the lowest-ranked Gator on ESPN's big board, but his six-spot jump is the biggest of the group. In addition to the three withdrawals mentioned above, Oklahoma forward Jalon Moore tore his Achilles' tendon and Australian professionals Ben Henshall and Malique Lewis withdrew from the draft. While Richard hasn't passed anyone by on talent alone, he's closer to a second-round projection than ever before. Signing as an undrafted free agent remains an option.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators basketball backcourt climbs ESPN NBA draft big board