Keyontae Johnson cleared for NBA draft pick, agents say

The NBA’s Fitness to Play panel has cleared Kansas State guard/forward Keyontae Johnson, allowing him to be selected in the June NBA draft, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Ross Aroyo told ESPN on Friday. from Priority Sports.

NBA teams were notified of Johnson’s clearance in a memo shared by the league office on Friday afternoon. Johnson, considered a potential late first-round pick, will now be eligible to begin traveling and training for potential teams, Bartelstein said.

Johnson had conducted interviews with teams during the NBA draft in Chicago last week.

As a member of the Florida Gators, Johnson, 23, collapsed on the field against Florida State in December 2020 and spent three days in a medically induced coma. He was diagnosed with heart disease, but was eventually cleared to play again and landed at Kansas State, where he was voted the 2023 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

Fifteen months after his collapse, Johnson made one final ceremonial appearance for the Gators in March 2022 before entering the transfer portal and gaining medical clearance to play at Kansas State last season.

Johnson averaged 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists on a team that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.