Keyontae Johnson enters NBA Draft with high hopes after one magical season at K-State
When Keyontae Johnson was a young college basketball player at Florida he earned enough national respect to enter 2020-21 as SEC Preseason Player of the Year. He was also universally viewed as a surefire draft pick whenever he decided to move on to the NBA.
By now, you know what happened next.
Johnson was unable to live up to his billing with the Gators after he collapsed during a game against Florida State. He spent much of the next two years learning to manage a heart condition and his basketball career was in jeopardy. But he returned to the court in glorious fashion for Kansas State this past season as he helped the Wildcats reach the Elite Eight while averaging 17.4 points and 5.3 rebounds.
His dream of playing in the NBA is once again within reach. It should become reality on Thursday night after the NBA Draft gets underway.
Johnson, a 6-foot-5 and 229-pound wing, worked incredibly hard to make this happen. Still, he feels like K-State coach Jerome Tang and the Wildcats deserve an assist for helping him get his hoops career back on track.
“Coach Tang does a great job of assigning graduate assistants to help you,” Johnson said during a phone interview. “I had somebody in there with me every day basically just helping me get 1% better each day. That’s what Coach Tang always preached. I was in the gym constantly working on free throws, getting up extra shots and doing ball-handling drills. It made me so much more comfortable in games. I was able to show a lot more this year than I ever had before. I think that impressed NBA teams.”
We will soon find out what NBA decision-makers think of Johnson.
But Johnson is expecting good things after going through the pre-draft process. He is cautiously optimistic that he will be selected “late in the first round or early in the second round.” He made that prediction after working out for seven different NBA teams — the Trailblazers, Jazz, Warriors, Clippers, Thunder, Lakers and Hornets.
All of his auditions went better than expected. Johnson said he showed off his size and physicality against other draft prospects and also shot the ball well from the perimeter.
It was also easy for him to interview with teams. When asked if he received any bizarre or unexpected questions during the process he quickly said no. Why? Because his comeback story about overcoming a medical ailment and then shining for a Big 12 team is already widely known.
“Every team already knew my background,” Johnson said. “They didn’t ask me anything that surprised me. All of those meetings were about them trying to get to know me and me telling them about my family.”
The only hard questions he had to answer came from doctors, who had to decide whether or not to clear him physically for the NBA. They eventually did, but not until Johnson visited with 12 different medical experts.
Throughout his time at K-State, Johnson refused to declare himself at full strength as he worked himself back into basketball shape. Even during the NCAA Tournament he joked that he was only at 90% of his full capabilities. But that is no longer the case. He now says his energy tank is completely full.
Dedicating his life to basketball for a few months helped him get there. Johnson spent several weeks living in Chicago leading up to the NBA Draft Combine. He was constantly in the gym or the weight room. His body, game and confidence all improved.
“I’m ready to get drafted,” Johnson said. “I have no doubt that I’m ready for the NBA.”
Johnson plans to watch the draft with friends and family at his home in Norfolk, Virginia. He wants to be around his support system if he receives good news. But he will also almost certainly speak with his former K-State teammates and coaches before the night is over.
Excited as he is for the NBA, there is a part of him that wishes he had more than one year in Manhattan.
His favorite basketball memory came last season when K-State defeated rival Kansas and purple-clad fans stormed the court to celebrate. He had never experienced anything like that before. Being a part of that special moment was a good reminder that he had a bright future.
“It was by far the best fan base I have ever been around,” Johnson said. “Everything about Kansas State was great — the atmosphere, the competition and the love we felt at games. They made me feel like I was at home.”
