Florida
Former Florida guards swap jersey in first NBA meeting
Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard wore the same logo on their chests for two years, but now they’re both looking to make a name for themselves in the NBA. Still, the duo remains part of Florida Gators history, and what do old teammates do when they meet up at the pro level? That’s right, it’s jersey swap time.
Richard and the Golden State Warriors got the better of Clayton and the Utah Jazz, 134-117, but it was all love after the game. The two won a national championship just seven months ago, and they remain the blueprint for transfer success at Florida under Todd Golden.
Although Clayton was the bigger star in college, Richard has gotten off to a hotter start in the NBA. He’s started a few games for the Warriors and put up nine points, six rebounds and two steals in Monday night’s win. Despite coming off the bench, Richard played 29 minutes. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and point guard Steph Curry have praised the former Gator, who’s emerging as one of the biggest steals of the NBA draft (56th overall).
Clayton’s NBA career has started off slower. The 18th overall pick is averaging 5.4 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds over 15.9 minutes per game. He spent a game at the G-League level earlier this week, but a 20-point, five-rebound and five-assist outburst got him called back up after a few days.
Although Clayton went scoreless in the head-to-head matchup with his former teammate, he had four assists, one rebound and a block.
This won’t be the last time the two meet on the hardcourt. Gators fans hope to see several matchups between the two, hopefully with both as starters, in the coming years. Getting the jersey swap out of the way early is smart. Who knows how tightly contested those future contests will be?
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Video: Injured Florida manatee rescued by authorities, receiving medical care at ZooTampa
FORT MYERS, Fla. – An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.
What we know:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.
READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD
Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.
What we don’t know:
LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.
By the numbers:
As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.
Dig deeper:
Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.
READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week
The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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