Former Gator Keyontae Johnson a second-round pick in NBA Draft
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After fighting for his life and returning to the court, Keyontae Johnson is now in the NBA. The former Gators star was drafted 50th overall Thursday with a second-round pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Johnson will be teammates again with Florida’s Tre Mann, who was a selected by OKC in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
Johnson averaged 14.0 points per game and 7.1 rebounds as an All-SEC performer at Florida in 2019-20 before being named the 2020-21 Preseason SEC Player of the Year.
Through his three full games in 2020-21, Johnson averaged 19.6 points and shot 64 percent. At that point, he was projected as a first-round pick for the 2021 NBA Draft.
Johnson scored 789 points in 72 career appearances for the Gators, but after he collapsed against FSU in Dec. 12, 2020, UF did not clear him to play with his heart condition.
“It was very tough, but they just had to what was best for them medically and what they felt was safe for me,” Johnson said of not being cleared by Florida. “There is no ill will or hate for them. I’m still a Gator for life.”
He returned to the team in February 2021 as a student-assistant coach and served in that role for the remainder of the year and last season, contributing in film, scout and on-court instruction.
Johnson made an honorary start on Senior Night, receiving the opening tip before exiting the court to a standing ovation. He graduated from UF with a degree in Education Sciences in Spring 2022.
Johnson committed to Kansas State in August 2022 and starred for the Wildcats last season. He averaged career highs with 17.4 points, 2.1 assists and 34.1 minutes per game along with 6.8 rebounds.
Johnson had 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal in KSU’s 75-69 win over Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament. He drilled a dagger stepback 3 late to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in his career after being eliminated from the second round twice with UF.
Johnson crossed paths with his former team when Kansas State hosted the Gators on Jan. 28. He finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds in a 64-50 win over Florida.
Johnson reunited with UF men’s basketball athletic trainer Duke Werner, who helped save his life at FSU, and shared a cool moment with Florida’s players in the post-game handshake line and took pictures with them afterward.
The Gators had five players on the roster who were on the 2020-21 team with Johnson and two more spent the 2021-22 season around him.
“Today was a special day just seeing my old teammates. It was fun out there playing against them, just felt back like practice and just joking around throughout the game but keep being competitive. I feel like it was a great experience,” Johnson said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime memory and you’ll never get that feeling or that moment back. So, just trying to embrace the moment and show my love for them.”
