Walter Clayton Jr. traded soccer for basketball ahead of the NCAA event

school basketball

Through zach brazil

March 15, 2023 | 11:25 pm

Scholarship provides had been spectacular.

Faculties that made provides incorporated Notre Dame, Tennessee, Georgia, Nebraska, and Florida.

Walter Clayton Jr. was once just a sophomore, however big-time school soccer techniques had been enamored with protection.

His highschool soccer trainer, Tavarris Johnson, described him as a “particular breed”, able to controlling the defensive backfield or even main older teammates.

“He will have selected his college,” Johnson mentioned. “He was once actually great.” There was once just one downside: Clayton most popular basketball, and selected the hardwood over the gridiron.

“Soccer follow, I hated it,” he recalled with amusing. “Hitting all week lengthy, being available in the market within the solar. I may pass to basketball follow and be at liberty, have a laugh the entire time.

At the present time, it is having a look like a sensible resolution.

The 6-foot-2 Floridian will lead Thirteenth-seeded Iona into the NCAA Event on Friday in opposition to fourth-seeded UConn in a West Area sport in Albany, following a stellar sophomore season by which he was once MAAC participant of the yr and led the staff in scoring. did. Gale in scoring (16.9), steals (1.9) and 3-point proportion (42.9).

It began after his sophomore yr at Lake Wales Top Faculty.

Clayton was once changing into a robust soccer prospect, however basketball was once nonetheless his past love.

He handiest performed the sport on the urging of an in depth buddy in highschool, Gervon Dexter Sr., a defensive lineman who went directly to play for Florida and is a projected mid-round pick out in April’s NFL Draft.

Clayton felt the will to choose from the 2 if he actually sought after to thrive in both game.

He instructed Johnson concerning the resolution, which the soccer trainer nonetheless hurts his emotions to at the present time.

Clayton transferred to native rival Bartow Top Faculty.

It was once the simpler basketball program ever.

Below the steering of Terrence McGriff, Clayton changed into a Department I prospect there, serving to Bartow win a couple of Magnificence 6A Florida state championships.

However his choices nonetheless faded compared to soccer.

Now not with the ability to shuttle at the AAU circuit all the way through the spring and summer time of his junior yr because of the COVID-19 pandemic it sounds as if harm.

The universities did not learn about it.

Clayton participated in exercises over the summer time with the CP25 AAU program, which was once streamed to present publicity for the gamers.

East Carolina, Florida A&M, the School of Charleston, Stetson and James Madison had been amongst his suitors.

Then Iona were given into the combo within the fall of his senior yr.

Clayton did not know a lot concerning the New Rochelle college, however he was once very accustomed to the trainer, Corridor of Famer Rick Pitino.

“I nonetheless keep in mind gazing Louisville in opposition to Michigan, the (2013) nationwide championship sport,” Clayton mentioned. “I knew precisely who he was once.”

A couple of weeks after listening to from Iona, he verbally dedicated to Gayle.

Clayton loved a high quality freshman season, averaging 7.3 issues in 16.1 mins in line with sport.

Iona gained the MAAC regular-season crown and was once a heavy favourite to win the post-season identify.

However Ryder pulled off an disappointed within the quarterfinals.

Within the loss, Clayton neglected the entrance finish of a one-on-one that will have clinched the sport within the ultimate minute.

It caught to him.

He repeatedly labored on that a part of his sport.

After a exercise, he did not go away the fitness center till he hit 25 in a row.

He needed to hit 10 directly between drills.

“His willingness to paintings is astounding,” McGriff mentioned. “He works always.”

This season, he led the country in free-throw taking pictures with 95.1 p.c, hitting 98 of 103 makes an attempt.

Clayton performed a significant function in Iona’s run to the MAAC event identify, averaging 20 issues, 7.6 rebounds and a pair of.6 assists in 3 simple wins.

He was once a really perfect 14 of 14 in charity stripes.

After the general victory, his teammates celebrated the victory fiercely.

He was once satisfied, however no longer joyful.

McGriff spotted this, and requested Clayton about it this week, in need of to verify the whole thing was once ok.

Clayton instructed him, “Trainer, Iona’s been this a long way ahead of.” “I wish to win the sport on Friday.”

For years, he watched the NCAA Event from afar, imagining being on this place.

Friday afternoon in Albany, Clayton will enjoy it firsthand. This was once some of the causes he selected basketball over soccer within the first position.