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Florida star Walter Clayton Jr. was ticked off with Gators mascot

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Apr 8, 2025 9:10 PM ET

Florida basketball star Walter Clayton Jr. was annoyed with the Gators’ mascot after his team’s 65-63 win over Houston in the NCAA Tournament championship game on Monday night.

Clayton scored 11 points and had 7 assists in the victory, which gave Florida their 3rd national championship. He was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as well.

After the game, Clayton was celebrating and trying to take a photo with his girlfriend and daughter, but the Gators’ mascot interrupted. The TV cameras caught him telling the mascot to “get out.” Clayton even had to say it a second time when the mascot didn’t listen.

Hilarious watching Walter Clayton Jr tell the Florida Gators mascot to get out of his family picture…hilarious. #NationalChampionship #NCAATournament #NCAA #NationalChampions #Florida #Gators #Houston #Cougars pic.twitter.com/qFLtz1ItOO
— Artie Schweitzer (@ArtieSchweitzer) April 8, 2025

The mascot should have realized that was a personal moment and not a time for Phillie Phanatic nonsense. But it ended up producing a funny moment (less funny if you were Clayton).

Clayton began his career playing two seasons at Iona and just finished his second season at Florida. He averaged 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game as a senior.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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