When Walter Clayton Jr. won the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award, it was the conclusion of a career-best year for the senior guard. It’s been a long journey for the 22-year-old who started his collegiate career at Iona University, where initially he only started four games in his freshman season.
As he continued marching toward a championship, he balanced both basketball and fatherhood. Through it all, he remained consistent on the floor with sky-high point totals and career-high assist averages. From November to March, his dominance was clear. Here are 10 of Clayton’s top moments from the 2025 campaign:
Nov. 7: Florida beats Jacksonville, 81-60
With about two and a half minutes remaining, Clayton launched himself from the SEC logo in the paint over the head of the last Jacksonville defender from the basket. He came away with a thundering slam dunk, helping cement Florida’s blowout victory over the in-state rival Dolphins. The stands and bench erupted into cheers, marking the first of many big moments to come for the senior guard this season.
Feb. 8: Florida tops Auburn, 90-81
In an upset victory, Florida toppled then-No. 1 Auburn for the team’s first victory over the Tigers this season. About four minutes into the first half, UF sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu handed the ball to Clayton near the center-court logo. He quickly read his surroundings before putting up a deep three. The ball sailed through the air and into the net. It was the first time the Gators defeated Auburn this season, but certainly not the last.
March 5: Florida skirts Alabama, 99-94
With under five minutes in the second half, Clayton slipped away from a Crimson Tide defender and collected the ball at the left side of the arc from fellow senior guard Alijiah Martin. Instead of putting up one of his usual 3-pointers, the Florida floor general dribbled inside the paint, lobbing the ball over the heads of four Alabama defenders. Sophomore forward Alex Condon went up for the pass and slammed it down, hanging onto the rim for added emphasis. For as much credit as Clayton has received for his scoring capabilities this season, he notched a career-high 4.2 assists per game as well.
March 8: Gators crush Ole Miss on Senior Day, 90-71
Dribbling past not one but two defenders, Clayton pushed past the Rebels’ defense into the paint. He jumped over one defender, switching the ball midair to his other hand and flipped it through the net. Despite landing on his back, Clayton quickly rose to snag 23 points, shooting 5 for 11 beyond the arc. For Florida’s hometown crowd, this play, with 18:51 seconds remaining in the second half, was the final hurrah in a season filled to the brim with thrilling basketball.
March 15: UF pummels Alabama in SEC semifinals, 104-82
Clayton pushed past two Alabama defenders, hoping to reorient himself as he made it past the arc unscathed. With the ball in one hand, he took in his options. He could pass, but no one was open, and 12 seconds remained on the shot clock. With enough room, he sent a 3-point attempt up and didn’t stick around to watch it sail through the net, traveling back to play defense as he already had a team-high 30 minutes. He would end his year with a career-high average of 32.6 minutes on the court, a far cry from his 2021-22 average of 16.1 as a freshman.
March 16: Florida clinched the SEC Championship over Tennessee, 86-77
Seeing his opportunity, Clayton, who had lingered near the top of the key and rushed toward the ball, which had bounced away in a stray Tennessee pass. He fought two Volunteers for the ball, rushing past them. He went for a layup, the ball spinning off his fingertips and into the net. His shot, though not glamorous, helped Florida prove why many analysts chose the team to win it all going into March Madness. Clayton, to his credit, also ended his year shooting 44%.
March 23: Florida edges UConn, 77-75
In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Florida looked as though it wouldn’t overcome the back-to-back champion UConn Huskies — until Clayton placed the Gators’ fate squarely on his shoulders. With just under three minutes left on the clock, the Huskies were up by two points. Clayton shot a 3-pointer over the reaching hand of a UConn defender. 62-61, Gators. For the first time in the second half, Florida led the game. UF shut down the Huskies from there, eventually winning a nailbiter 77-75. Clayton finished the game with 23 points, shooting 5 for 8 from beyond the arc.
March 29: Gators overcome Texas Tech, 84-79
Down by two points with about a minute to go, Clayton seemed stranded in the paint with four defenders closing in. So, he took his normal course of action, betting on his skills from deep. As he jumped in the air, twirling around with two Texas Tech defenders reaching to block, his estimations paid off. The ball flew into the net, sending the bench and the crowd back in Gainesville into ecstaticism. Clayton had secured the Gators a Final Four appearance, ending his night with 30 points. His best tournament game, however, was still to come.
April 5: Gators outlast Auburn, 79-73
Nine seconds remaining on the shot clock. A minute and a half left in the game. Surrounded on three sides, Clayton lunged toward the net and flung a shot up, hoping it would be enough. Sprawled on his back on the baseline, he had a front-row seat to watch the shot drop and increase Florida’s lead by two. Though the Tigers would claw back, it wouldn’t be enough to overcome Florida’s momentum. The Gators, who had struggled in the first half, earned their national championship appearance with a nine-point comeback. Clayton’s season-high 34 points were key to the victory.
April 7: Florida wins national championship over Houston, 65-63
The national championship was on the line, and so far, Clayton had looked abnormally out of place. Throughout the first half and into the second, he couldn’t knock down any shots. However, with just under eight minutes on the clock, Clayton sprinted past Houston’s defender to launch another attempt. This time, though, it passed through the net. As an additional bonus, Clayton was fouled, earning him an and-one attempt that tied the game. By the end, Clayton had exhausted all of his remaining energy, collecting a relatively quiet 11 points. It would be enough, however, to secure Florida a national championship win for the first time since 2007.
Contact Liana Handler at lhandler@alligator.org. Follow her on X @handlerliana
Liana is the Gators gymnastic beat reporter for the Alligator and a junior sports journalism major. In her free time, she likes to play dominos and listen to Celia Cruz.
