Keyontae Johnson declares for 2023 NBA Draft
Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, he announced on Twitter on Sunday evening. Johnson just completed his lone season with the Wildcats. He previously had started his career with Florida.
Johnson was a four-star prospect in the 2018 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Johnson initially began at Florida and made quite a name for himself, averaging 14 points and 7.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Johnson was off to a hot start in 2020-21, but suffered a medical issue that resulted in him collapsing on the floor. Johnson did not play the rest of the season or the following season at Florida, leading to his transfer to Kansas State.
In his lone season with the Wildcats, Johnson was a star. He averaged 17.4 points per game while also grabbing 6.8 rebounds per game. Johnson was a part of Kansas State’s historic run to the Elite Eight, alongside star point guard Markquis Nowell. But foul trouble hurt Johnson against Florida Atlantic in the Elite Eight. He played just 18 minutes and scored nine points in the season-ending loss.
More on the 2023 NBA Draft
The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft will be announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is expected to handle the second round of picks.
To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years in age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that player spend that one year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose so.
While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move is on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.
The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 16, which is also the start of the NBA Conference Finals.