Ex-Norview standout accused of sexual assault

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A sworn complaint for first-degree felony sexual assault has been filed against former Norview High and University of Florida basketball player Keyontae Johnson, according to court records.

Johnson, 22, has not been arrested. The school’s athletic department is aware of the accusation, a spokesman said Friday.

Johnson has retained Gainesville-based attorney Ron Kozlowski, who vehemently defended his client’s innocence.

“I’m confident once the facts come out, no charges will be filed,” Kozlowski told the Orlando Sentinel. “Keyontae didn’t commit a crime, didn’t do anything wrong. That will be apparent once the facts are out.”

T.J.LegacyColeofFreshTakeFlorida, a news service of UF’s College of Journalism and Communications, reported details of a Feb. 26 incident at an off-campus party involving Johnsonandhisfemaleaccuser.

Citing interviews and court records, Fresh Take Florida reported police listened in on a phone call during which Johnson acknowledged he had unprotected sex with his accuser after she had consumed alcohol.

Fresh Take Florida said police described Johnson and his accuser in the court records as friends and said they previously had consensual intercourse as recently as August. Since then, police said, Johnson had asked “multiple times” to have sex again, but his accuser declined and “made it clear to the DEF that she did not want to have sexual intercourse any more,” the report said.

GPD spoke to two witnesses describing the 19-year-old woman as “heavily intoxicated.”

Johnson is on track to graduate this spring, bringing an end to four years in Gainesville featuring athletic success and personal struggle. The Norfolk native tragically collapsed on the court Dec. 12, 2020, to ultimately end his college career because of health concerns.

Doctors have struggled to determine the cause of the harrowing incident. Johnson was hospitalized for eight days and placed in a medically induced coma.

The former All-SEC performer has served as a quasi-assistant coach the past two seasons.