It’s been an exciting spring in Gainesville with Florida basketball earning their first final four appearance since the 2014 season. The energy around campus is electrifying as student athletes and coaches across all sports are showing support for Gators basketball.
Billy Napier, the head football coach at UF, reacted to Florida’s final four berth after his squad’s spring football scrimmage on Tuesday evening. Napier also shared that he will be attending the final four game vs Auburn in San Antiono with his two sons.
“Man they’re a fun group to watch, and they have a unique team chemistry, togetherness it just jumps off the screen,” Napier said. “So I’m excited about taking the boys to San Antonio to watch him play Saturday.”
Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. has caught Napier’s eye during his terrific stretch of play in the NCAA Tournament. Clayton Jr., a 6’2 dual sport athlete out of Bartow High School in Florida was offered a football scholarship at UF under former head coach Dan Mullen.
“I appreciate his poise as a competitor,” Napier said on Clayton Jr. “I think there’s been a couple games, UConn, and then the game the other night, early when they’re doing everything they can do to stop the guy, and then as the game goes he navigates that and keeps his poise and then he comes through in the clutch. I think he could have easily been frustrated a number of times, but it’s just like he’s waiting for the opportunity and he’s gonna make the play when given that chance. He’s kind of really come into his own in my opinion as a competitor and you can’t help but respect it. It’s one thing to be a productive player, score a bunch, it’s another thing to make those shots when it counts.”
The Gators have leaned on their strong backcourt of Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and Alijah Martin all season long. The trio not only has the talent you need to make a deep tournament run, but the intangibles as well.
“Those three guards in general, their toughness, their leadership, their poise. All three of those guys, if you evaluate each game, parts of the game each one has kind of carried the team. Veteran teams win championships,” Napier said.
While Florida football finishes up spring camp, they’ll be keeping a close eye on the men’s basketball team, who looks to claim the program’s third National Championship.
“It’s one of the great things about the spring semester at the University of Florida, somebody is competing for an SEC Championship and a National Championship, and oftentimes it’s multiple teams,” Napier said. It’s great to see that the basketball program has made, and even our women’s team has created some momentum for themselves here. I’m extremely proud of those guys. There’s no doubt, there’s an energy around it.”