I could have been college football’s biggest star but chose to be the next Steph Curry and am now a national champion
It was a sliding doors moment. What if Florida star Walter Clayton Jr. chose to play football instead of basketball? Walter Clayton Jr. has led the Florida Gators to the national title for the first time since 2007Getty Would Clayton be in the NFL by now? Would he have been college football‘s next great star, instead of basketball’s next Steph Curry? Would Clayton and the Gators have won the national championship? We’ll never know the answer to any of these questions, because luckily for the Gators, Clayton chose hoops. And with that, title number three is coming back to Gainesville. Florida outlasted Houston 65-63 in a game in which Florida led for only 64 seconds. But when the clock hit zero, it was Clayton and the Gators who were able to throw their arms up in victory. After hitting two of the biggest shots of the tournament, in Florida’s come-from-behind win over Texas Tech in the Elite 8, Clayton pushed the Gators past Auburn in the Final Four and through Houston in the national championship to etch themselves into college basketball immortality. However, none of this would have happened if Clayton chose to play football in college instead of basketball. Clayton was a four-star safety prospect coming out of high school, with offers from some of the biggest names in college football. Clayton has been the engine to Florida’s offense throughout its historic seasonGetty Clayton could have played football in college but chose the hardwood instead and is now a national championGetty Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Nebraska, you name the school, and they probably offered Clayton and wanted him in a helmet. Instead, he chose basketball and attended Iona, the little-known school in New Rochelle, New York, and played under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino. Clayton thrived for two seasons before transferring to Florida, in a full-circle moment. As for the Curry comparisons? Clayton says not so fast. “That’s arguably the greatest point guard in the history of basketball, so I’ve got a ways to go,” Clayton said after the win over Texas Tech. March Madness Top Stories Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson ‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance March Madness legends who are still balling in NBA today – from Steph Curry to Ja Morant NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment “I wouldn’t compare myself, but just thankful for the recognition.” While Clayton may not accept the comparisons quite yet, the rest of the country has taken notice. And his former head coach couldn’t say enough good things about the star point guard and why he recruited him to come to Iona in the first place. “We looked at the film, and what I liked is that he won back-to-back high school championships,” Pitino said. “I wanted a winner at Iona, and he was a winner. Even though he was a football player, I liked the way he passed the ball. I liked what he was doing. “And when he first came in, he struggled a bit like all freshmen do. “Then he became MVP of the league. His sophomore year, he was a killer basketball player as he is now at Florida.” Clayton chose basketball over football, and the rest was history. Now he is a national champion and has cemented his legacy as a Gator legend forever. On the hardwood, just as he wanted. How to watch March Madness in the UK *If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions. This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years. talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service. Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
It was a sliding doors moment.
What if Florida star Walter Clayton Jr. chose to play football instead of basketball?
Would Clayton be in the NFL by now?
Would he have been college football‘s next great star, instead of basketball’s next Steph Curry?
Would Clayton and the Gators have won the national championship?
We’ll never know the answer to any of these questions, because luckily for the Gators, Clayton chose hoops.
And with that, title number three is coming back to Gainesville.
Florida outlasted Houston 65-63 in a game in which Florida led for only 64 seconds.
But when the clock hit zero, it was Clayton and the Gators who were able to throw their arms up in victory.
After hitting two of the biggest shots of the tournament, in Florida’s come-from-behind win over Texas Tech in the Elite 8, Clayton pushed the Gators past Auburn in the Final Four and through Houston in the national championship to etch themselves into college basketball immortality.
However, none of this would have happened if Clayton chose to play football in college instead of basketball.
Clayton was a four-star safety prospect coming out of high school, with offers from some of the biggest names in college football.
Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Nebraska, you name the school, and they probably offered Clayton and wanted him in a helmet.
Instead, he chose basketball and attended Iona, the little-known school in New Rochelle, New York, and played under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
Clayton thrived for two seasons before transferring to Florida, in a full-circle moment.
As for the Curry comparisons?
Clayton says not so fast.
“That’s arguably the greatest point guard in the history of basketball, so I’ve got a ways to go,” Clayton said after the win over Texas Tech.
March Madness Top Stories
Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson
‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance
March Madness legends who are still balling in NBA today – from Steph Curry to Ja Morant
NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever
Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment
“I wouldn’t compare myself, but just thankful for the recognition.”
While Clayton may not accept the comparisons quite yet, the rest of the country has taken notice.
And his former head coach couldn’t say enough good things about the star point guard and why he recruited him to come to Iona in the first place.
“We looked at the film, and what I liked is that he won back-to-back high school championships,” Pitino said.
“I wanted a winner at Iona, and he was a winner. Even though he was a football player, I liked the way he passed the ball. I liked what he was doing.
“And when he first came in, he struggled a bit like all freshmen do.
“Then he became MVP of the league. His sophomore year, he was a killer basketball player as he is now at Florida.”
Clayton chose basketball over football, and the rest was history.
Now he is a national champion and has cemented his legacy as a Gator legend forever.
On the hardwood, just as he wanted.
How to watch March Madness in the UK
*If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue
March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
