Former Florida Standout Keyontae Johnson Selected to G League Up Next Game
Former Florida Gators and Kansas State Wildcats standout wing Keyontae Johnson was recognized for his promising rookie campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder G League affiliate OKC Blue by being selected to play in the G League Up Next Game during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft by Oklahoma City, Johnson has served as a two-way player throughout his rookie season, bouncing between the Thunder and their affiliate G League team in the Blue.
The former Gators and Wildcats standout has shined as one of the G League's top players, accounting for 20 points on 52.3% from the floor, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest on top of six reserve-action outings with the Thunder.
His production has signaled the potential for his permanent move to the varsity roster at some point in the near future.
Johnson earned vast recognition as an NBA-caliber talent during his first two seasons with the Gators in 2018-19 and 2019-20 before producing at a first-round level through the first three games of his junior year in 2020-21. Showcasing his talent as a dynamic scoring option and stout man-to-man defender, Johnson accounted for 11 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 72 career appearances at UF.
However, following his scary collapse on the court against the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee in which he went into cardiac arrest and received emergency CPR from Florida athletic trainer Duke Werner before being transported to a local hospital, Johnson's Gators career abruptly ended.
He was deemed medically ineligible by University of Florida medical professionals with a lingering heart condition. Accordingly, Johnson entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal, striving to find a program to clear him for action.
He found Kansas State.
With the Wildcats, Johnson resurrected his basketball career with an impressive final season at the collegiate level, accounting for a career-high 17 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists to lead the unit alongside guard Markquis Nowell to the Elite Eight in year one of head coach Jerome Tang's reign in Manhattan.
Now, the former dynamic duo will star in the G League Next Up Game in Indianapolis, Ind., on Sunday, Feb. 18.
Stay tuned to All Gators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports Illustrated on Facebook.
