Florida’s Johnson weighs $5M insurance option

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A University of Florida basketball player who collapsed during a game last December is deciding whether to try and get medically cleared to play professionally or cash in a $5 million insurance policy.

Two people with knowledge of Keyontae Johnson’s situation told The Associated Press that the senior forward’s policy went into effect in July 2020, five months before he crashed face-first onto the court at Florida State. Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns.

The 22-year-old Johnson hasn’t practiced or played since, and according to one of the people, the Gators don’t anticipate the 6-foot-5-inch, 230-pound Virginian being medically cleared to return this season.

“He’s very much a big part of our program,” Florida coach Mike White said last week. “No change in status at all. Not practicing. Coaching, helping organize practice, prepare for practice, doing some officiating. He’s active in drill work. … He’s doing whatever he can. He’s an unselfish guy. He’s a winner. He’s always going to be, and he’s doing whatever he can to help his teammates and to help us as a staff.”

Johnson, the Southeastern Conference’s preseason player of the year in 2020, has turned his attention toward pursing a potential NBA career, one person said. He would need medical clearance — something that hasn’t happened in the 11 months since his collapse — and then pass any number of tests before being allowed to attend next year’s NBA scouting combine or privately work out for teams.

Johnson’s policy provides him enough flexibility to take steps toward playing professionally and still be able to reverse course and make an insurance claim, one of the people said. If he does trigger the insurance policy that Florida paid the premiums on, there’s an option for him to take the $5 million as a lump sum. There’s no timetable or deadline for Johnson to make a decision on his future.

If he doesn’t play again, Johnson has the lucrative policy to offset the loss of future earnings.

College basketball players are eligible for the NCAA’S Exceptional Disability Insurance Program if they have eligibility remaining and have the potential to be selected in the first round of the upcoming NBA or WNBA draft. The program also covers football, baseball and men’s ice hockey.

Johnson and his family have remained quiet in recent months. They declined requests to be interviewed for this story but released a statement in February saying his collapse was not related to a previous positive COVID-19 test, citing a consultation team that included experts from four highly respected schools of medicine.

The family did not say what doctors believe caused Johnson’s trauma.