Walter Clayton Jr. in Florida named the most remarkable player in the 2025 NCAA tournament

After winning an exceptional March Madness race with a 65-63 victory against Houston in the national championship match on Monday, Walter Clayton Jr. in Florida was appointed the most remarkable player in the 2025 NCAA tournament.

Clayton, who started his career at Iona but has spent his last two seasons with the Gators, collected an average of 22.3 points, 3.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds on six tournament games.

Clayton was exceptional all year round, with an average of 18.5 points per game on the way to be appointed finalist of the Naismith player of the year. In the tournament, he reached another level. He posted 23 points in the round of 16 and in the round of 32 before collecting 30 points against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and 34 points against Auburn in the Final Four.

Houston came on Monday with a clear plan to close Clayton, and that worked for a large part of the match. But even if Clayton did not find the basket so much, marking only 11 points, he found other ways to contribute, such as depositing seven assists.

“We said it all year round, our motto is” we can all go, “said Clayton.” We have a team full of guys who can go, it’s not just for me. We have several guys who can get a bucket and do anything, so my team kept me until I can put the ball in the basket, so screaming the boys. “

Clayton’s journey to celebrity was anything but easy.

Leaving the high school, he aroused more interest as a football player, landing offers for best programs such as Georgia, Tennessee and Florida, for 247sports. He had much fewer offers for basketball, but finally decided to stick to the hoops and joined Iona.

After two years to play for Rick Pitino with the Gaels, he struck the transfer portal and returned to his country of origin to reach the Gators before the 2023-24 season.

Now, after having directed Florida to its third championship in the history of the program, the name of Clayton is in history books forever.