Will Richard (now with the Golden State Warriors), UF associate head coach Carlin Hartman and Walter Clayton Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies) at a UF workout this week.
Gator Boys Are Back
Friday, September 4, 2026 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
Share:
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As the Florida basketball team did its customary pre-practice clap-out, Coach Todd Golden nodded to a couple visiting yet very familiar faces to bring the routine home.
Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard spent last season in the NBA, but they still knew the drill.
"Welcome back, [guys]!" Golden screamed, punctuating the greeting in his own customary and colorful way.
That was Monday. The two pillars of the 2025 NCAA title-winning team were around the program all week – shooting, training, hanging out – and Friday were joined by the Alijah Martin, the third Gator Muskeeter, if you will, thus making for quite a reunion of champions, considering a half-dozen other players, plus coaches and staffers, are still around from that incredible, history-making squad of two seasons ago. On a big-time hoops recruiting weekend, no less.
"Love coming back and seeing everybody," said Clayton, the '25 first-round pick who was traded during his rookie season from Utah to the Memphis Grizzlies. "Put a lot of work in this gym, so it still feels like home."
On Friday afternoon, the team practiced in Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center and will be back there late Saturday afternoon for an open workout that early arriving football fans can watch. The air-conditioned O'Dome, coupled with a preview of the nation's preseason's likely No. 1-ranked team, will make for a nice way pass some time in the run-up to kickoff. Clayton and Richard will be on the floor. Martin, with the Toronto Raptors, is rehabbing from offseason surgery.
All three will be in training camp with their respective teams at the end of the month.
Members of the 2024-25 NCAA championship team after practice Friday (from left): Victor Mikic, Denzel Aberdeen, Alex Condon, Walter Clayton Jr., Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, Will Richard, Isaiah Brown, Urban Klavzar and Bennett Andersen (Not pictured: Alijah Martin).
Some locals may have already seen Clayton and Richard bouncing around at the favorite eating spots the last few nights.
"People definitely notice us," said Richard, who made a big-time impact as second-round rookie with Golden State last season. "We've been trying to keep it a little low-key, but we know it's going to be hectic at the football game tomorrow. We really don't mind, though."
Just like their former team didn't mind them being back. In fact, the Gators loved it.
