1 week Ago By Gilbert McGregor
March Madness is officially a wrap, as Florida was crowned national champions of the 2024-25 season. In addition to Florida taking home the hardware after a 65-63 win over Houston , Walter Clayton Jr., the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, will add to his personal trophy collection.
Clayton's performance at the Final Four was a continuation of his excellence throughout the tournament run and the season. In the title game, he finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and seven assists despite a slow start to lead the Gators to a win. The MOP honor is a prestigious one, as Clayton joins a list of winners that includes Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, among many other notable stars.
Here's how Clayton earned the distinction. 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Who won Most Outstanding Player at Final Four? Clayton was named Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four in 2025. In the Final Four, he raised his play to another level.
He finished with 34 points, four rebounds, and two assists in the national semifinal before recording 11 points, five rebounds, and seven assists in the championship game. Florida was down at halftime, and a large reason was that the stout Houston defense shut out Clayton. He finally found his footing, finishing with 11 total points and playing tough defense to help the Gators to a two-point win.
THE HOOP AND THE HARM FOR WALTER CLAYTON JR. pic.twitter.
com/GYPEHwUwhW Entering Walter Clayton Jr. time..
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com/ttogcZ7jTZ Clayton Jr. was also involved in the final play of the game. He was playing defense and went up for a block on a shot.
Clayton disrupted Emanuel Sharp's shot and he dropped the ball. He couldn't pick it up or it would have been a double-double and the game ended without Houston getting a shot off. "FLORIDA IS BACK ON TOP OF THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL WORLD!" pic.
twitter.com/IeLecOAcSb Most Outstanding Player winners Year Player School 2025 Walter Clayton Jr. Florida 2024 Tristen Newton UConn 2023 Adama Sanogo UConn 2022 Ochai Agbaji Kansas 2021 Jared Butler Baylor 2019 Kyle Guy Virginia 2018 Donte DiVincenzo Villanova 2017 Joel Berry II North Carolina 2016 Ryan Arcidiacono Villanova 2015 Tyus Jones Duke 2014 Shabazz Napier UConn 2013 Luke Hancock Louisville* 2012 Anthony Davis Kentucky 2011 Kemba Walker UConn 2010 Kyle Singler Duke 2009 Wayne Ellington North Carolina 2008 Mario Chalmers Kansas 2007 Corey Brewer Florida 2006 Joakim Noah Florida 2005 Sean May North Carolina 2004 Emeka Okafor UConn 2003 Carmelo Anthony Syracuse 2002 Juan Dixon Maryland 2001 Shane Battier Duke 2000 Mateen Cleaves Michigan State 1999 Richard Hamilton UConn 1998 Jeff Sheppard Kentucky 1997 Miles Simon Arizona 1996 Tony Delk Kentucky 1995 Ed O'Bannon UCLA 1994 Corliss Williamson Arkansas 1993 Donald Williams North Carolina 1992 Bobby Hurley Duke 1991 Christian Laettner Duke 1990 Anderson Hunt UNLV 1989 Glen Rice Michigan 1988 Danny Manning Kansas 1987 Keith Smart Indiana 1986 Pervis Ellison Louisville 1985 Ed Pinckney Villanova 1984 Patrick Ewing Georgetown 1983 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston 1982 James Worthy North Carolina 1981 Isiah Thomas Indiana 1980 Darrell Griffith Louisville 1979 Magic Johnson Michigan State 1978 Jack Givens Kentucky 1977 Butch Lee Marquette 1976 Kent Benson Indiana 1975 Richard Washington UCLA 1974 David Thompson NC State 1973 Bill Walton UCLA 1972 Bill Walton UCLA 1971 Vacated N/A 1970 Sidney Wicks UCLA 1969 Lew Alcindor UCLA 1968 Lew Alcindor UCLA 1967 Lew Alcindor UCLA 1966 Jerry Chambers Utah 1965 Bill Bradley Princeton 1964 Walt Hazzard UCLA 1963 Art Heyman Duke 1962 Paul Hogue Cincinnati 1961 Jerry Lucas Ohio State 1960 Jerry Lucas Ohio State 1959 Jerry West West Virginia 1958 Elgin Baylor Seattle 1957 Wilt Chamberlain Kansas 1956 Hal Lear Temple 1955 Bill Russell San Francisco 1954 Tom Gola La Salle 1953 B.
H. Born Kansas 1952 Clyde Lovellette Kansas 1951 Bill Spivey Kentucky 1950 Irwin Dambrot CCNY 1949 Alex Groza Kentucky 1948 Alex Groza Kentucky 1947 George Kaftan Holy Cross 1946 Bob Kurland Oklahoma State 1945 Bob Kurland Oklahoma State 1944 Arnie Ferrin Utah 1943 Ken Sailors Wyoming 1942 Howie Dallmar Stanford 1941 John Kotz Wisconsin 1940 Marvin Huffman Indiana 1939 Jimmy Hull Ohio State * Title vacated.
