Walter Clayton Jr. played a pivotal role in the SEC Tournament. His leadership and scoring ability were foundational in Florida’s championship. In the SEC Championship Game vs. Tennessee, Clayton Jr. led the team in scoring with 22 points. He was awarded MVP of the Tournament for helping win the SEC. More importantly, the SEC Championship win gained the Florida Gators a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA Tournament Rounds 1 and 2
In Round 1 in the NCAA tournament, UF defeated Norfolk State 95-69. In the game, Clayton Jr. played 29 minutes. He scored 23 points. He was 4-for-9 on threes and 7-of-8 on free throws. Clayton Jr. had 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. In round 2, Florida 77 vs. UCONN 75. Clayton Jr. played 36 minutes and had 23 points. He hit 5-of-8 three-pointers and was 6-of-7 from the line with 3 rebounds and 1 assist. He showed a high level of play in the early rounds, setting up shop for a deep run.
Sweet 16 and Elite 8
In the Sweet 16, the Terrapins kept Clayton Jr. relatively quiet. Nevertheless, the Gators utilized other weapons. They spread the ball around for the win, Florida 87 vs Maryland 71. Clayton Jr. played 32 minutes. He scored 13 points and went 2-of-6 on triples and 5-of-6 on free throws. He added 1 rebound, 4 assists, and a steal. In the Elite 8 game, Clayton Jr. came back strong. Florida 84 vs Texas Tech 79. Clayton Jr. played 35 minutes with 30 points, but he was heavily fouled, gaining much of his points from the foul line. He was 13-of-14, 3-of-8 on threes with 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.
Final Four
Walter Clayton Jr. got hot against the Auburn Tigers in the Final Four. He delivered an exceptional performance. Clayton Jr. played 34 minutes and had 34 points. He was 7-of-7 from the line and 5-of-8 on three-pointers. Clayton Jr. had 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Florida was trailing by 9 points going into halftime. The Gator scored 20 points in the second half, including 7 huge points in the final 2:30. His performance clinched the win for the Gators.
Walter Clayton Jr. In the National Championship Game
In the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Game, Walter Clayton Jr. was held scoreless in the first half of the 65-63 win over Houston. Clayton Jr played 35 minutes and scored 11 points after being shut down by Houston’s stiff defense. He went just 1-of-7 from the three-point line. Walter Clayton Jr. was 4-of-4 from the foul line. He had 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
Clayton Jr. played a significant role in their second-half comeback. The Gators were 12 points behind at the half. He hit a clutch three with 3:14 left and tied the game at 60. In the final seconds, Clayton Jr. pressured Houston’s Emanuel Sharp into a turnover preventing a potential game-winning shot to secure the win for the Gators.
Great Tournament For Clayton Jr.
Walter Clayton Jr. had a tremendous tournament. He was instrumental in leading Florida to the NCAA Championship. He was awarded NCAA Tournament MVP. Clayton Jr. delivered clutch performances and showed excellent leadership in high-pressure moments. Walter Clayton Jr has etched his name into Florida basketball history.
