You wouldn't think that Florida fans could get any more excited than when they won the 2025 men's basketball National Championship. Yet, star guard Walter Clayton Jr. provided the exact sentiment to push Gator Nation even farther into its delirium.
Less than 14 hours after securing their program's third-ever national title, Clayton and his team were back in Gainesville, celebrating with a massive crowd of their biggest supporters at Florida's "Welcome Home" event.
In celebratory fashion, Clayton couldn't help but boast about the incredible accomplishment that his team just achieved and build the anticipation for the future of the program.
"Florida back on top, man," Clayton said. "And it’s finna continue.”
“Florida back on top, man. And it’s finna continue.” - #Gators star Walter Clayton Jr. pic.twitter.com/d8jGlii73u
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) April 8, 2025
The last time the Gators secured the national title at the end of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, they repeated the following season (2006, 2007). With Clayton's excitement for the future of the program, it seems like the guard expects something similar to happen relatively soon.
Walter Clayton Jr. National Championship game stats
- 11 points
- 7 assists
- 5 rebounds
- 1 block
- 1 steal
Clayton was a 0-star recruit coming out of high school, and he began his collegiate career with the Iona Gaels in 2021. Then, he transferred to Florida ahead of the 2023-24 season, and the rest is history.
Also read: Will Richard pays homage to former Florida title teams with 'Gator boys stay hot' line
In the championship game, Clayton scored more than a sixth of the Gators' total points and provided seven of the team's 14 total assists. His offensive presence and basketball IQ came up huge for Florida as the team came from behind to defeat the Houston Cougars.
Now, Florida fans are simply praying that Clayton can somehow return for yet another season with the Gators, and maybe even fulfill his promise that Florida's winning ways are set to continue.