Johnson hopeful for medical clearance
Star forward won’t enter draft, eyes return to Gators next season
GAINESVILLE — Florida basketball star Keyontae Johnson remains hopeful he will play next season for the Gators, but doctors first must clear the 21-year-old due to uncertainty about his health.
Johnson announced Wednesday on his Twitter account he will continue to work on his game and does not plan to enter the 2021 NBA Draft.
The post was the most encouraging news from Johnson since his scary collapse during a Dec. 12 contest at Florida State led to his hospitalization for nine days and ultimately forced him to watch the 2020-21 season from the sideline.
“I am progressing & steadily making progress daily in my health,” Johnson wrote. “I am patiently waiting on medical clearance. I plan to keep working to prepare for the upcoming season.
“My story continues to be written & driven by God! Go Gators! All Love, Keyontae.”
Many feared the worst for Johnson following his medical scare, but the 6-foot-5, 229-pound forward now could provide a major lift to coach Mike White’s program next season.
Voted the preseason SEC Player of the Year, Johnson led the 201920 team in scoring to earn All-SEC honors and entered the FSU game with a team-high scoring average of 19.7 points. His return would be major news for a Gators’ program undergoing a massive offseason makeover.
Johnson’s loss forced White and his staff to revamp the team’s offensive philosophy, but the Gators reached their fourth straight NCAA Tournament before bowing
out with an 81-78 second-round loss to Oral Roberts.
A massive roster shakeup soon followed as seven players left the team. Ques Glover, Omar Payne, Osayi Osifo and Noah Locke transferred; Tre Mann and Scottie Lewis left early for the NBA Draft and signed with agents; and center Colin Castleton decided to explore his professional options without hiring an agent and therefore can return to school.
White has signed four promising and proven transfers in recent weeks — guards Phlandrous Fleming Jr. of Charleston Southern, Myreon Jones (Penn State) and
Brandon McKissic (Missouri-Kansas City) along with forward CJ Felder (Boston College). The Gators also are expected to welcome Macon, Ga., high school star Kowacie Reeves, a 6-foot-6 guard and the nation’s 35th-ranked recruit.
Meanwhile, two longtime White assistants left for head coaching jobs.
Jordan Mincey, who came with White to Gainesville from Louisiana Tech, left for Jacksonville in March. Darrius Nichols, another original staff member at UF, was introduced Wednesday at Radford University, located in western Virginia. Nichols attended Radford High School and played at West Virginia University.