Later, gator.
Florida guard and Final Four MVP Walter Clayton Jr. had a comical moment with Gators mascot Albert while posing with the championship trophy after the 65-63 triumph over Houston in the national title game.
Clayton held the hardware on the floor, draped in blue and orange confetti, while flanked to his left by girlfriend Tatiyana Burney, one-year-old daughter Leilani and Albert, with the mascot standing his right while also showcasing a WWE-style Florida championship belt over his right shoulder.
The former Iona star seemingly then said to Albert, “Out, my boy”, and the large reptile patted Clayton on the shoulder several times before exiting the frame for a moment.
A woman wearing a Florida jersey then approached the non-alligator trio and that’s when Albert worked his way back into the frame.
Clayton, wanting to chronicle some family memories without a big green friend, immediately turned to Albert and made it clear that he needed to scram.
Albert, rather comically, wagged his finger and exited stage, allowing Clayton and his loved ones to pose for a photo.
For Clayton, it marked his second strong defensive play in a short span after his heads-up defense in the game’s final moments helped seal the Gators’ third national title triumph.
On the game’s final possession, Houston’s Emanuel Sharp rose for a 3-point attempt only to pass on hoisting an attempt after Clayton jumped toward him with his arm extended.
Sharp then dropped the ball to avoid a turnover, killing valuable seconds off the clock before the game ended while Florida’s Alex Condon jumped on the ball on the floor.
Clayton consoled a distraught Sharp after the game in a sign of respect.
The guard overcome a rough shooting night to earn MVP honors, going scoreless in the first half before scoring all 11 of his points in the second half to help Florida rally from a 12-point second-half deficit.
“We work on it in practice, closing out, jumping to the side so you don’t foul the shooter. He pump faked, threw the ball down, ended up being a good play, Do got on it. We won the game,” Clayton said of the final play. “The feeling, just surreal. It’s a crazy feeling. I can’t even explain it, but it feel good, though.”