SAN ANTONIO — There were two Walter Claytons on a confetti-filled court inside the Alamodome on Monday. One of them wore a basketball net like a necklace and a backward “national champions” hat.
That was Walter Clayton Jr. The other one wore a No. 1 Clayton jersey and the proud look of a parent who had just watched their namesake reach heights that most can only ever dream of. That was Walter Clayton Sr.

“The best kid in the world,” Clayton Sr. told CBS Sports. “Never got in trouble. Couple of calls from the principal, but that was about it. Once he got into high school, he was a great kid.”
Once Clayton got into high school, he also faced a big decision. He was coveted as a football prospect at Bartow (Florida) High School who instead chose basketball. As if it wasn’t already clear, that was the right decision.
Clayton Jr. was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player after helping lead Florida to a 65-63 win over Houston in the national title game.
His 11 points and one made 3-pointer were each postseason lows, but his seven assists marked a postseason high, and Clayton’s championship-clinching moment is not noted in the box score at all.
With Houston trailing by two on its final possession, Clayton drew the assignment of guarding sharpshooter Emanuel Sharp, who initially was isolated on the baseline far away from the action unfolding at the top of the key.
Then, suddenly, Sharp shot through the lane, got a pick from J’Wan Roberts and popped – seemingly wide open – for a deep 3-point attempt that could have lifted Houston to victory.
Clayton was yelling “back screen” at teammate Alex Condon, but Condon got held up by Roberts and had no chance of contesting the shot. That left Clayton with about 15 feet of ground to make up in the blink of an eye.