Keyontae Johnson enters transfer portal: Florida basketball star, out since late 2020, may play elsewhere

Basketball

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Image Credit: Alex de la Osa / UAA

Just under two months after being honored on the court at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in what was expected to be his final collegiate game, Florida Gators forward Keyontae Johnson has entered the transfer portal, according to multiple reports. Johnson, who collapsed on the court minutes into a road game at Florida State, has been medically disqualified since December 2020.

Johnson spent the remainder of the 2020-21 season as a player assistant for the Gators, and while he considered declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft that offseason, he chose to return to the program as he sought medical clearance from doctors and team trainers.

Unfortunately for Johnson, that clearance never came despite his desire to suit up for Florida. He resumed his role as a player assistant for the 2021-22 campaign and served as a steady presence for his teammates in the locker room amid significant offseason changes across the roster and coaching staff.

To this point, it had been unknown what Johnson planned for his future, though there was no expectation he would play for the Gators under new head coach Todd Golden. In fact, given Johnson has not made any public statements, that future remains unknown.

May 1 was the transfer portal deadline ahead of a multi-month dead period, so it’s possible that Johnson’s decision to enter is procedural in nature. He would, of course, need to be cleared by medical professionals for a transfer to any institution to make sense, so it’s possible that personal doctors and trainers for another team may give him that clearance.

There is also an extenuating circumstance that could further complicate a transfer.

Just over one month ago, Johnson was accused of first-degree felony sexual assault. Johnson, 22, allegedly committed sexual battery upon a person of 18 years of age or older without the person’s consent. He has neither been arrested nor charged by the State Attorney’s Office as the legal process continues to unfold. He retained a Gainesville-area criminal defense attorney and denied wrongdoing.

Johnson was on pace to graduate at the conclusion of the spring 2022 semester. He would have one year of eligibility remaining.