Walter Clayton Jr. stands at the top of a ladder -- and on top of the college basketball world -- after the Gators won the national championship Monday night over Houston. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)
Clayton Jr. Goes From Offensive Star To Defensive Stopper With National Championship On Line
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 | Men's Basketball, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
SAN ANTONIO — As the final seconds vanished off the clock, Walter Clayton Jr. stuck to Houston's Emanuel Sharp like glue. Clayton Jr. knew Sharp far better than what the scouting report told him. They both grew up in Florida, Clayton in Polk County and Sharp in neighboring Hillsborough County.
But in the waning moments of Florida's dramatic 65-63 victory over the Cougars on Monday night, Clayton Jr. locked in on Sharp like never before.
"We watched film on Sharp — 42% 3-point shooter and he shoots some tough ones,'' Clayton said afterward in Florida's joyous locker room. "I've known him since high school. He's always been a great shooter."
With the Gators leading by two and 19.7 seconds remaining in the game, the Cougars brought the ball over halfcourt with 15 seconds left and counting. L.J. Cryer passed to Milos Uzan on the right wing, and when Uzan was unable to find space against Florida's pressure, he passed the ball back to Cryer. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the court Sharp sprinted from down low, where Clayton Jr. shadowed his every move, to behind the 3-point line as Cryer attempted to break through UF's defense.
For a split second, Clayton hung back, knowing Houston's 6-foot-8 forward J'Wan Roberts was in the paint.
"I tried to attack Roberts a little bit so they didn't get that over-the-top lob,'' he said. "Then I seen it was the last second and tried to run at [Sharp]."
Did he ever. Clayton Jr. darted toward Sharp as if shot from a cannon.
Sharp caught a pass from Cryer with approximately 5.4 seconds remaining, squared toward the basket and planted his feet. He then lifted into the air for a potential game-winning 3-pointer. But the 6-foot-3 Clayton's closing speed caused Sharp, also 6-foot-3, to hesitate, pause his shot and drop the ball to the court. Unable to pick the ball up due to a traveling violation, the ball bounced and bounced and bounced the final few seconds away until Alex Condon dove for it and the buzzer sounded.
The Gators were national champions in a most improbable ending for a couple of reasons. One, for the unexpected way the game finished, and two, for Clayton answering as many questions about his defense as his offense afterward.
"They were guarding Walt pretty hard,'' said teammate Will Richard, who picked up the scoring slack with a team-high 18 points. "I feel like he still made plays to help the team win."
Houston held Clayton Jr., coming off a 34-point performance in Saturday night's victory over Auburn, scoreless for the first 25 minutes. He scored his first points on a pair of free throws in the second half. He made his first field goal on a layup-and-1 with 7:54 remaining, the 3-point play knotting the game 48-all after the Gators had trailed by 42-30.
Clayton Jr. added another layup and free throw to tie the score 51-all, and his only 3-pointer of the game made it 60-60 with 3:14 remaining. Clayton finished with 11 points, making 3 of 10 shots and 1 of 7 from 3-point distance. Instead of pouring in the points, Clayton dished seven assists, grabbed five rebounds and made the key defensive stop of the game.
"He played great defense,'' Condon said. "Credit to Walt. He's the main reason we won this national championship."
Fellow guard Alijah Martin has been impressed by Clayton Jr.'s all-around game all season, and for those surprised at what they saw Monday night, Martin said they shouldn't be.
"His defense is overlooked,'' Martin said. "I mean, that guy is an unbelievable athlete. He showed the nation that he can guard."
Walter Clayton Jr. found open space hard to find against Houston's defense on Monday night. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)
In an NCAA Tournament in which Clayton starred on the offensive end by averaging 22.3 points in Florida's six NCAA Tournament games, his defense is what they were talking about after the Gators limited the Cougars to 34.8% shooting and 6 of 25 from distance. Sharp finished 1-for-7 behind the 3-point line but never got a shot off when the Cougars needed one the most.
In his final game with the Gators, assistant coach John Andrzejek (defensive coordinator) praised Clayton's high basketball IQ and willingness to do whatever the team needs. Andrzejek has an introductory press conference later this week as Campbell University's head coach.
He is going to miss coaching a player as talented as Clayton Jr.
"He should be a lottery pick. He is an unbelievable offensive player. He's grown so much on D. He's a great defender for us,'' Andrzejek said. "I'm just privileged to have coached him, I really am. I love that guy. He's not just an NBA player, he is a very good NBA player."
Clayton Jr. capped his collegiate career as a national champion and the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. The story kept getting better until the very end.
What a career. What a season. What a finish.
"It's an amazing feeling anytime you can call yourself a champion,'' Clayton said. "When that buzzer sounded, I was kind of in shock. I didn't know 19 seconds could run off that fast. I will never forget that moment.
"Florida is back where it belongs."
And the Gators owe much of that to the guy in the No. 1 jersey.
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