Ad Disclosure
Will Richard gives young fan signed shoes from national championship game
By Andrew Olson
Published:
One young Florida basketball fan has the ultimate souvenir from the Gators’ national championship win over Houston on Monday night.
Matt Norlander of CBS Sports caught an awesome postgame moment in the Alamodome. Will Richard, arguably the MVP of the game, signed his game-worn shoes and handed them over to a young fan in the stands.
This kid just got Will Richard’s shoes —
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 8, 2025
signed — from the national championship game. pic.twitter.com/GO9lShOEWJ
Richard was key in lifting Florida to a national championship victory, the 3rd title in Florida basketball history. Walter Clayton Jr. was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player for carrying Florida to the championship game, but it was Richard who played the bigger part against Houston.
All eyes were on Clayton leading up to tipoff, and the consensus All-American struggled out of the gate. Clayton was held scoreless in the 1st half, and did not make a field goal until deep into the 2nd half. Richard, though, stepped up to keep the Gators in the game.
Richard offset a struggling Clayton by scoring 14 points in the 1st half. With no points from Clayton, Florida trailed by only 3 points at the break. If not for Richard’s hot start, the Gators may have found themselves too deep for Monday night’s come-from-behind victory.
Richard finished as Florida’s leader in points and rebounds, with 18 and 8.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
