TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A pair of local basketball legends were honored and remembered at Rickards High School on Saturday ahead of the Lady Raiders’ game.
Mickey Clayton and Ahmad Aliyy each impacted the Tallahassee hoops community so much that the word legend seems to fit them well.
Their wives were each at the recognition in their place. Clayton passed away just this past August, while Aliyy passed in 2023.
Clayton led both the Florida A&M men’s and women’s basketball teams to conference championships. He’s the only Division I coach to accomplish such a feat.
“Oh, it means a lot to me for them to honor my husband because this is what he loved and he would’ve loved this,” said Barbara Clayton, Mickey’s wife. “It meant everything to him; Florida A&M and this community, everything. That was Mickey.”
After a successful career himself, Aliyy became head coach for the FAMU DRS Baby Rattlers. Leading the team to three state championships.
“Well, I understand exactly what legend means and he was. He was a legend. He paved his own way,” said Akiba Aliyy, Ahmad’s wife. “He would absolutely be floored, first of all, at the tribute and he would love it because he genuinely loves the sport, he genuinely loves the kids and the mentors, the coaches who are helping to build these great programs.”
After the event, Rickards girls basketball took on Columbia and the Lady Raiders improved to 12-6 this season with a 50-23 win.
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