Keyontae Johnson selected by Thunder in second round
Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson has been selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the NBA Draft.
Johnson becomes the 53rd player all time at K-State to be selected in the NBA Draft. He is the first to be selected since Wesley Iwundu in 2017 and just the fourth player since 2000 amongst Kansas State players.
After playing just four games in 2020 and missing all of 2021 due to a heart condition, Johnson had a very productive season at K-State in 2022. He averaged 17.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor and 40.5 percent from three-point range.
The Virginia native helped lead Kansas State to the Elite Eight. Johnson averaged 15.5 points per game and five rebounds per game during the NCAA Tournament. For his effort in the postseason, Johnson was named to the 2023 NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team.
He was named to the 2023 All-Big 12 First Team by the Associated Press and coaches. Johnson also won Big 12 Newcomer of the Year by the AP and the coaches for his 2022 campaign. The AP and National Association of Basketball Coaches named the K-State star a third team All-American choice.
Johnson was just one of just 12 players in Kansas State history to eclipse 600 points in a single season at K-State in 2022. His 627 points during the season ranks No. 9 all-time at K-State in a single season. He scored in double figures in 34 of his 36 games for Jerome Tang and the Wildcats this past season.
They await to see if Kansas State point guard Markquis Nowell will be drafted as well. Stay tuned to KSO for the latest on the Wildcats and how they finish out the rest of the 2023-2024 K-State roster.
