Walter Clayton Jr.'s postseason heroics helped propel the Gators to the national championship.
Walter Clayton Jr. has earned the Southeastern Conference’s Roy F. Kramer Male Athlete of the Year honor, as announced by the SEC on Wednesday.Clayton played a pivotal role in leading Florida to the 2025 men’s basketball national title, collecting Final Four Most Outstanding Player accolades and consensus first-team All-America recognition. He becomes the first Gator from men’s basketball to receive the Kramer Award and the 14th overall honoree from Florida (17 total honors).
He joins an elite group of UF male athletes previously recognized: Danny Wuerffel (1995, ’96), Ryan Lochte (2005), Tim Tebow (2007, ’08), Caeleb Dressel (2018), and Grant Holloway (2019). Florida has now had an SEC Athlete of the Year for three consecutive years, with Parker Valby (2024) and Trinity Thomas (2023) earning the female honor. The Gators lead the conference with eight male and nine female recipients.
A native of Lake Wales, Fla., Clayton averaged 18.3 points per game last season and set a new single-season scoring record at Florida with 713 total points. He delivered standout performances in the NCAA Tournament, including a career-best 34 points in the Final Four win over Auburn and 30 in the Elite Eight against Texas Tech—becoming the first player since Larry Bird to post 30+ points in consecutive games from the regional final onward.
Clayton also shined in the SEC Tournament, averaging 20.7 points and hitting 13-of-26 from beyond the arc to earn MVP and All-Tournament Team honors, helping Florida capture its first SEC title since 2014.
He graduated in Spring 2025 with a degree in Educational Sciences and was selected 18th overall in the NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz.
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After a dominant 15–1 home record, nine sellouts, and the highest attendance since 2016–17, the defending national champions are gearing up for another thrilling season in the O’Dome. Season ticket packages for the 2025–26 campaign are available now and selling fast.
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Florida's SEC Athletes of the Year
| 2025 | Walter Clayton Jr. | Basketball |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Parker Valby | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 2023 | Trinity Thomas | Gymnastics |
| 2019 | Grant Holloway | Track & Field |
| 2018 | Caeleb Dressel | Swimming |
| 2016 | Bridget Sloan | Gymnastics |
| 2015 | Lauren Haeger | Softball |
| 2014 | Hannah Rogers | Softball |
| 2009 | Tim Tebow | Football |
| 2008 | Tim Tebow | Football |
| 2005 | Ryan Lochte | Swimming |
| 1997 | Danny Wuerffel | Football |
| 1996 | Danny Wuerffel | Football |
| 1994 | Nicole Haislett | Swimming |
| 1993 | Nicole Haislett | Swimming |
| 1988 | Dara Torres | Swimming |
| 1984 | Tracy Caulkins | Swimming |
2025 SEC Male Athlete of the Year Nominees
The Southeastern Conference has announced its standout male student-athlete nominees for the prestigious Roy F. Kramer Award. Representing a wide range of sports and schools, this year’s field includes:
- Mark Sears, Alabama – Basketball
- Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas – Baseball
- Johni Broome, Auburn – Basketball
- Walter Clayton Jr., Florida – Basketball
- Luca Urlando, Georgia – Swimming
- Carlie Makarawu, Kentucky – Track & Field
- Kade Anderson, LSU – Baseball
- Michael La Sasso, Ole Miss – Golf
- Peyton Bair, Mississippi State – Track & Field
- Jonathan Seremes, Missouri – Track & Field
- Ralford Mullings, Oklahoma – Track & Field
- LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina – Football
- Jordan Crooks, Tennessee – Swimming
- Hubert Kos, Texas – Swimming
- Sam Whitmarsh, Texas A&M – Track & Field
- Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt – Football
2025 SEC Female Athlete of the Year Nominees
The Southeastern Conference has announced its top female student-athlete nominees for the Roy F. Kramer Award, celebrating excellence across a wide range of sports:
- Doris Lemngole, Alabama – Cross Country / Track & Field
- Bri Ellis, Arkansas – Softball
- DJ Bennett, Auburn – Tennis
- Leanne Wong, Florida – Gymnastics
- Dasha Vidmanova, Georgia – Tennis (2025 Female Winner)
- Brooklyn DeLeye, Kentucky – Volleyball
- Aneesah Morrow, LSU – Basketball
- Caitlyn Macnab, Ole Miss – Golf
- Maddy Anderson, Mississippi State – Soccer
- Helen Hu, Missouri – Gymnastics
- Jordan Bowers, Oklahoma – Gymnastics
- JaMeesia Ford, South Carolina – Track & Field
- Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee – Softball
- Madison Booker, Texas – Basketball
- Jaiya Covington, Texas A&M – Track & Field
- Celia-Belle Mohr
Roy F. Kramer Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year Recipients
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walter Clayton Jr., Florida (basketball) | Dasha Vidmanova, Georgia (tennis) |
| 2024 | Jayden Daniels, LSU (football) | Parker Valby, Florida (cross country/track & field) |
| 2023 | Dylan Crews, LSU (baseball) | Trinity Thomas, Florida (gymnastics) |
| 2022 | Bryce Young, Alabama (football) | Aliyah Boston, South Carolina (basketball) |
| 2021 | DeVonta Smith, Alabama (football) | Madison Lilley, Kentucky (volleyball) |
| 2020 | Joe Burrow, LSU (football) | Tyasha Harris, South Carolina (basketball) |
| 2019 | Grant Holloway, Florida (track) | Maria Fassi, Arkansas (golf) |
| 2018 | Caeleb Dressel, Florida (swimming) | A'ja Wilson, South Carolina (basketball) |
| 2017 | Brent Rooker, Mississippi State (baseball) | Kendell Williams, Georgia (track & field) |
| 2016 | Jarrion Lawson, Arkansas (track & field) | Bridget Sloan, Florida (gymnastics) |
| 2015 | Andrew Benintendi, Arkansas (baseball) | Lauren Haeger, Florida (softball) |
| 2014 | A.J. Reed, Kentucky (baseball) | Hannah Rogers, Florida (softball) |
| 2013 | Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (football) | Allison Schmitt, Georgia (swimming) |
| 2012 | Anthony Davis, Kentucky (basketball) | Brooke Pancake, Alabama (golf) |
| 2011 | John-Patrick Smith, Tennessee (tennis) | Kayla Hoffman, Alabama (gymnastics) |
| 2010 | Mark Ingram, Alabama (football) | Susan Jackson, LSU (gymnastics) |
| 2009 | Tim Tebow, Florida (football) | Courtney Kupets, Georgia (gymnastics) |
| 2008 | Tim Tebow, Florida (football) | Candace Parker, Tennessee (basketball) |
| 2007 | David Price, Vanderbilt (baseball) | Monica Abbott, Tennessee (softball) |
| 2006 | Xavier Carter, LSU (track & field) | Seimone Augustus, LSU (basketball) |
| 2005 | Ryan Lochte, Florida (swimming) | Kirsty Coventry, Auburn (swimming) |
| 2004 | Alistair Cragg, Arkansas (cross country/track) | Jeana Rice, Alabama (gymnastics) |
| 2003 | Alistair Cragg, Arkansas (cross country/track) | LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State (basketball) |
| 2002 | Walter Lewis, LSU (track & field) | Andree' Pickens, Alabama (gymnastics) |
| 2001 | Matias Boeker, Georgia (tennis) | Amy Yoder Begley, Arkansas (cross country/track) |
| 2000 | Kip Bouknight, South Carolina (baseball) | Kristy Kowal, Georgia (swimming) |
| 1999 | Tim Couch, Kentucky (football) | Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (basketball) |
| 1998 | Peyton Manning, Tennessee (football) | Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (basketball) |
| 1997 | Danny Wuerffel, Florida (football) | Trinity Johnson, South Carolina (softball) |
| 1996 | Danny Wuerffel, Florida (football) | Saudia Roundtree, Georgia (basketball) |
| 1995 | Todd Helton, Tennessee (baseball) | Jenny Hansen, Kentucky (gymnastics) |
| 1994 | Corliss Williamson, Arkansas (basketball) | Nicole Haislett, Florida (swimming) |
| 1993 | Jamal Mashburn, Kentucky (basketball) | Nicole Haislett, Florida (swimming) |
| 1992 | Shaquille O'Neal, LSU (basketball) | Vicki Goetze, Georgia (golf) |
| 1991 | Shaquille O'Neal, LSU (basketball) | Daedra Charles, Tennessee (basketball) |
| 1990 | Alec Kessler, Georgia (basketball) | Dee Foster, Alabama (gymnastics) |
| 1989 | Derrick Thomas, Alabama (football) | Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee (basketball) |
| 1988 | Will Perdue, Vanderbilt (basketball) | Dara Torres, Florida (swimming) |
| 1987 | Cornelius Bennett, Alabama (football) | Lillie Leatherwood King, Alabama (track & field) |
| 1986 | Bo Jackson, Auburn (football) | Jennifer Gillom, Ole Miss (basketball) |
| 1985 | Will Clark, Mississippi State (baseball) | Penney Hauschild, Alabama (gymnastics) |
| 1984 | Terry Hoage, Georgia (football) | Tracy Caulkins, Florida (swimming) |
| 1983 | Herschel Walker, Georgia (football/track and field) | |
| 1982 | Buck Belue, Georgia (football/baseball) | |
| 1981 | Rowdy Gaines, Auburn (swimming) | |
| 1980 | Kyle Macy, Kentucky (basketball) | |
| 1979 | Reggie King, Alabama (basketball) | |
| 1978 | Jack Givens, Kentucky (basketball) | |
| 1977 | Larry Seivers, Tennessee (football) | |
| 1976 | Harvey Glance, Auburn (track & field) |
