From Court Kings to Campus Legends

SAN ANTONIO — As the final seconds ticked away in Florida’s 65–63 national championship win over Houston, Walter Clayton Jr. was locked in on Emanuel Sharp. Their connection went beyond scouting reports—they both hail from Florida, with Clayton from Polk County and Sharp from neighboring Hillsborough.

In those closing moments, Clayton’s focus on Sharp was sharper than ever.

"We watched film on Sharp — 42% 3-point shooter and he shoots some tough ones,'' Clayton said from the celebratory Florida locker room. "I've known him since high school. He's always been a great shooter."

With Florida clinging to a two-point lead and 19.7 seconds left, Houston advanced the ball past midcourt. L.J. Cryer passed to Milos Uzan on the right wing, but Florida’s defense held firm. Uzan returned the ball to Cryer, while Sharp sprinted from the low post to the perimeter. Clayton shadowed him the entire way.

For a brief moment, Clayton sagged toward the paint, aware of the threat posed by 6-foot-8 forward J’Wan Roberts.

"I tried to attack Roberts a little bit so they didn't get that over-the-top lob,'' he explained. "Then I seen it was the last second and tried to run at [Sharp]."

And he did—exploding toward Sharp with incredible speed.

Sharp caught Cryer’s pass with just over five seconds remaining, squared up, and rose for a potential game-winning three. But Clayton’s rapid closeout forced hesitation. Sharp aborted the shot mid-air and dropped the ball. Unable to recover it without traveling, the ball bounced away as time dwindled. Alex Condon dove onto it just before the buzzer.