Gators’ Johnson in induced coma
Florida men’s basketball player Keyontae Johnson was “following simple commands” Monday after being transferred from Tallahassee Memorial to UF Health in Gainesville, the school said.
Officials added that Johnson is undergoing further tests and remains in critical but stable condition two days after he collapsed on the court during a game at Florida State. Johnson was moved to Gainesville via helicopter with his mother by his side.
USA Today quoted Johnson’s grandfather, Larry DeJarnett, as saying the player had been in a medically induced coma.
The SEC’s preseason player of the year crumpled to the floor coming out a timeout and received emergency medical attention. Hewasmovedto a stretcher and carried to a waiting ambulance as teammates, coaches, staff, fans and others watched in disbelief Saturday.
Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 during the summer. Although the cause of Johnson’s collapse wasn’t immediately known, the coronavirus can lead to myocarditis, a viral infection of the heart muscle. At its most severe, myocarditis can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and has been a cause of death for young healthy athletes.
Washington pulled out of the Pac-12 football championship game due to COVID-19 issues in the Huskies program, and Oregon will now play USC for the conference title on Friday instead. Washington (3-1) announced it’s withdrawing from the title game after determining the Huskies didn’t have at least 53 scholarship players available and didn’t meet the minimum number of scholarship athletes at specific positions. Washington had to cancel its game last weekend against Oregon (3-2) that would have determined the Pac-12 North champion due to COVID-19 cases in the program. Washington was named division champ by virtue of having a better winning percentage than Oregon. ... For the second time in 10 days, No. 9 Georgia’s scheduled game against winless Vanderbilt was called off because the Commodores couldn’t meet the SEC’s minimum roster and position requirements due to COVID-19 issues. The SEC said the game will be declared a no-contest. ... The ACChired Northwestern AD Jim Phillips to be the league’s next commissioner. Phillips will replace John Swofford, who’s retiring in June.
The Pistons waived G LiAngelo Ball, who was signed earlier in the month. Ball is the brother of Pelicans G Lonzo Ball and Hornets lottery pick LaMelo Ball.
NBA:
Soccer: London’s six Premier League clubs won’t be allowed supporters at games again after the British capital was placed under the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions due to a spike in cases. The decision by the British government, which takes effect on Wednesday, leaves only four top division clubs in areas where a maximum2,000 fans are allowed in stadiums. They are Everton and Liverpool on the west coast, and Brighton and Southampton on the south coast. ... Paris Saint-Germain said in a statement that the initial assessment of Neymar’s left ankle injury is “reassuring.” Neymar was taken off on a stretcher in stoppage time on Sunday when PSG lost at home to Lyon 1-0.