Gators’ Johnson in induced coma

Florida men’s basketball player Keyontae Johnson was“followingsimplecommands”Mondayafterbeing 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 withhismotherbyhisside.

USA Today quoted Johnson’s grandfather, Larry DeJarnett,assayingtheplayerhadbeeninamedically inducedcoma.

TheSEC’spreseasonplayeroftheyearcrumpledto thefloorcomingoutatimeoutandreceivedemergency medical attention. He was moved to a stretcher and carriedtoawaitingambulanceasteammates,coaches, staff, fans andotherswatchedindisbelief 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 itsmostsevere,myocarditiscanleadtosuddencardiac arrest andhas been a cause of death for young healthy athletes.

Washington pulled out of the Pac-12 football championshipgameduetoCOVID-19issuesintheHuskies 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 anddidn’t meettheminimum 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. 9Georgia’sscheduledgameagainstwinlessVanderbilt wascalledoffbecausetheCommodorescouldn’tmeet the SEC’s minimumrosterandposition requirements duetoCOVID-19issues.TheSECsaidthegamewillbe declaredano-contest....TheACChiredNorthwestern ADJimPhillips to be the league’s next commissioner. Phillips will replace John Swofford, who’s retiring in June.

NBA: 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.

Soccer: London’s six Premier League clubs won’t be allowed supporters at games again after the British capital wasplaced under the toughest level of coronavirusrestrictionsduetoaspikeincases.Thedecisionby theBritishgovernment,whichtakeseffectonWednesday,leavesonlyfourtopdivisionclubsinareaswherea maximum2,000fansareallowedinstadiums.