GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Keyontae Johnson has a new home and new hope for his basketball future.
The former Florida basketball star plans to resume his career this season at Kansas State, he announced Saturday on his Instagram account. The former All-SEC performer chose the Wildcats over Memphis, Nebraska and Western Kentucky.
Johnson’s move comes nearly more than 18 months after his harrowing collapse on the court at Florida State ended his playing career with the Gators.
Doctors at UF Health would not medically clear Johnson due to concerns and uncertainty about the cause of the Dec. 12, 2020 incident. The 23-year-old decided to enter the transfer portal in May after he graduated.
At the time of his health scare, Johnson was on track for a professional career and coming off an all-conference 2019-20 season as a sophomore averaging 14.0 points and 7.1 rebounds.
Johnson has one season of eligibility remaining, with the option to apply for a second year. The explosive 6-foot-5 wing from Norfolk, Va., spent the better part of two seasons on the Gators bench cheering and mentoring his teammates.
Despite health unknowns, Johnson was confident he’d return to the court.
“I’m for sure going to play basketball again,” he told the Orlando Sentinel in July 2021 while putting on a camp for Gainesville youth.
Johnson suited up one more time for the Gators, but in a ceremonial role. He lined up for tip-off during the Gators’ Senior Day March 5 against Kentucky. Once the ball was in play, officials stopped the game and allowed Johnson to return to the bench.
Johnson will join new coach Jerome Tang as he tries to rebuild K-State after spending the past 19 seasons at Baylor, the 2021 national champions.
In an odd twist, Johnson and the Wildcats have a Jan. 28 date Gainesville to face the Gators during the SEC-Big 12 Challenge.
Johnson was eligible to cash in on a $5 million insurance policy he secured before his junior season because he was projected as a potential first-round NBA draft pick.
Johnson’s moves comes in the wake of the dismissal of a sexual assault case against him stemming from a sworn complaint filed March 16 by a woman with whom he had a prior relationship.
Johnson was not charged or arrested after she called police Feb. 28 to claim he’d had sexually assaulted her. Gainesville Police Department detectives did determine probable cause, but investigators ultimately decided against charging Johnson.
