Remembering the Gator that Chomped March Madness
With the tournament here, let’s think back to last year’s hero on the team that was crowned champion: Walter Clayton Jr.
Walter Clayton Jr. had been a 2-sport star at his Florida high school. He was actually a better football recruit than he was a basketball recruit. Despite being a 4-star in football, he stuck to basketball despite being unranked. It was feared Clayton’s lack of size would hinder him in D1 college hoops so no big school gave him an offer. Schools like Florida were much more interested in his Gridiron skills. Still, Clayton stuck to his guns and committed to Rick Pitino’s Iona.
Clayton wouldn’t become a starter until his sophomore year and he immediately flourished in a bigger role. Alongside current Piston Daniss Jenkins, Clayton helped Iona win the MAAC tournament and get back to the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, they’d get annihilated by a UConn side that won it all. For his efforts, he earned MAAC player of the year.
After that season, Clayton finally drew the attention of the big schools that were previously only interested in his football ability. Even though Pitino tried to bring Clayton to Saint John’s, there was 1 obvious choice in the transfer portal. Along with a more prestigious program, Clayton also wanted to be closer to home, which made Florida the obvious choice. He would become a Florida Gator. When Clayton arrived, the Gators had only 1 season with more than 25 wins since Billy Donavon jumped to the NBA in 2015. They hadn’t won more than 20 games in the past 5 seasons, Clayton was brought in to change that.
Clayton’s junior season went great. He led the way for Florida, upping his scoring average just a bit while adjusting to tougher competition. Alongside seniors Zion Pullin and Tyrese Samuel, Florida was one of the best offenses in the country and reached the final of the SEC tournament, only to lose to Auburn. Then Florida lost a heartbreaker against Colorado in the NCAA tournament despite Clayton’s wonderful 33-point night. Even with those seniors leaving, next year would be historic for the Gators.
Clayton led the way once again and helped the team jump from 24-12 to 36-4, Florida got revenge and won the SEC tournament with ease, clinching the one-seed. Even with all the improvements he made in his game and all the success his team had up to that point, he was still projected as mid-2nd round pick at best. There was still doubt surrounding his name. He’d just have to prove everyone wrong one final time.
Heading into the tournament, Florida was the favourite #1 seed to go down 1st. Round of 64 was light work. Clayton for his part put up 23 points. In the Round of 32 against UConn, the spectre he faced with Iona, the Huskies kept it close until Clayton sealed it with clutch 3s another 23-points game.
Next was the Sweet 16 against Maryland who had just won an all-time classic against Colorado State. Clayton and Florida had no interest in fairytale endings and they ended the Terps with a 16-point victory. Clayton had a modest game as fellow senior Will Richard and new transfer Alijah Martin outscored him.
The Elite 8 is where Clayton’s legend became crystallized. Despite facing a double digit deficit with 5:30 to go in the game, Clayton took over. He scored his final 12 points and helped Florida make it to the Final 4 with a 30-point game. This wasn’t even his best game, that would come in the next one. Against Auburn, the same team that beat Florida in the SEC championship in Clayton’s junior year, Clayton and the Gators got their revenge.
Clayton’s 34 in the Final 4 is the 4th most in any Final 4 or National Championship game in the shot clock era. Clayton also became the first player to put up back-to-back 30-point games between the Elite 8 and Final 4 since Larry Bird all the way back in 1979. Clayton was the talk of the basketball world, especially since tournament favourites Duke had lost in their Final 4 matchup to Houston, a team known for their stifling defense. They would be Clayton’s final challenge.
Clayton would defer a lot more in this game, getting his tournament-high in assists. Don’t worry, he still managed to hit one more clutch 3, to tie the game, with 3 minutes to go. After a few scrappy defensive possessions, it was over. Walter Clayton Jr. had led Florida to a National Championship with one of the greatest tournament performances of all time.
Of course, he was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. He became the first SEC player ever to finish a season with 700+ points while winning the Championship. After being a guy who schools wanted for his football talents instead of his basketball ability, he was at the top of the mountain. His old coach Pitino compared him to Jalen Brunson heading into the draft. Walter Clayton Jr., projected to be a late 2nd round pick heading into the tournament, was picked 18th overall by the Wizards.
He looks like a decent NBA player so far, but he’ll always have that National Championship.
