Keyontae Johnson

Kansas State Men’s Basketball vs. Oklahoma, March 1, 2023. Final: KSU 85, OU 69.

(Photo: Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports)

Photo by: © Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports

Kansas State Men’s Basketball vs. Oklahoma, March 1, 2023.

(Photo: Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports)

Photo by: © Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports

Kansas State Men’s Basketball vs. Kansas, January 17, 2023. Final: Kansas State 83, Kansas 82.

(Photo: Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports)

Photo by: © Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports

Kansas State Men’s Basketball vs. TCU, January 14, 2023.

(Photo: Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports)

Photo by: © Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports

Kansas State Men’s Basketball vs. Texas, January 3, 2023. Final: Kansas State 116, Texas 103.

First conference road game under Coach Tang. The most points ever scored by a Kansas State Basketball team.

(Photo: Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports)

Photo by: © Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports

Kansas State Menâ??s Basketball vs. Nevada, November 22, 2022.(Photo: Lathe Cobb/K-State Sports)

Position:
Forward
Ht./Wt.:
6-6 / 230
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Norfolk, Va.
High School:
Oak Hill (Va.) Academy
Prev School:
Florida

Pronounced KEY-aunt-TAY

Features (click on headline for link)

The Comeback After the Collapse (The Ringer, July 6, 2023)
Johnson enters NBA Draft with high hopes after one magical season at K-State (Kansas City Star, June 21, 2023)
Next Step in the Journey (K-State Sports Extra, June 6, 2023)
'The best story in basketball': Two years after his sudden collapse, Keyontae Johnson is betting on himself and winning (Yahoo! Sports, March 15, 2023)
'They Gave Me a Second Chance to Play Basketball' (K-State Sports Extra, Feb. 28, 2023)
Two Years Since a Sudden Collapse, Keyontae Johnson is Proving He's Okay (New York Times, Feb. 13, 2023)
A Special Day for Keyontae (K-State Sports Extra, Jan. 30, 2023)
Johnson has become 'inspiring' story for K-State after health scare (Wichita Eagle, Dec. 14, 2022)
A Grand Return to the Court (K-State Sports Extra, Nov. 8, 2022)

HONORS

Julius Erving Small Forward Award Finalist
2023 NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team
2023 Third Team All-American (AP/NABC)
2023 Honorable Mention All-American (USBWA)
2023 Lute Olson National Player of the Year finalist
2023 NABC All-District First Team
2023 USBWA All-Region First Team
2023 All-Big 12 First Team (league coaches/AP)
Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year [league coaches/AP]
2023 Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List
2023 John R. Wooden Award National Ballot [15 finalists]
2023 Naismith Trophy Award [10 semifinalists)
NCAA March Madness National Player of the Week (11/14/22)
5-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (11/14/22, 12/19/22, 1/9/23, 1/23/23, 2/27/23)
2022 Cayman Islands Classic All-Tournament Team
2020-21 Preseason SEC Player of the Year (while at Florida)
2020 First Team All-SEC (league coaches) (while at Florida)
2020 Second Team All-SEC (AP) (while at Florida)
2019 Charleston Classic MVP and All-Tournament Team (while at Florida)
2019 Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational MVP (while at Florida)
SEC Player of the Week (11/25/19) (while at Florida)

CAREER OVERVIEW

Played his fourth season of college basketball at K-State in 2022-23 after playing 3 seasons at Florida (2018-21)… Was eligible for a waiver for another season of college eligibility in 2023-24 but opted to turn professional and remain in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Was part of 100 wins and 4 postseason teams (NCAA Tournament appearances in 2019, 2021 and 2023) at Florida and K-State with a probable fifth cancelled due to COVID-19, including trips to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2019 and 2021 and the Elite Eight in 2023.
Saw action in 108 career games with 92 starts, including 36 starts at K-State in 2022-23… Played in 71 games at Florida with 55 starts from 2018-21.
Finished his college career with 1,416 career points (13.1 ppg.) on 51.9 percent shooting (538-of-1037), including 38.9 percent (103-of-265) from 3-point range, with 713 rebounds (6.6 rpg.), 175 assists (1.6 apg.), 29 blocks (0.3 bpg.) and 117 steals (1.1 spg.) in 3,132 points (29.0 mpg.).
One of just 12 players in school history to eclipse 600 points in a single season at K-State in 2022-23… His 627 points rank No. 9 on the single-season list… Eclipsed 1,000 career points while playing at K-State in a game vs. Radford (12/21/22).
Posted 72 career double-digit scoring games, including 18 games of at least 20 points… 15 of his 18 20-point games came against high-major competition, including Baylor (1/25/20) when Jerome Tang was on staff and 9 times in 2022-23… His career-high of 28 points came at K-State, against Nevada (11/22/22) and at No. 6/6 Texas (1/3/23)… Scored in double figures in 34 of 36 games at K-State, including 10 games of at least 20 points.
Totaled 19 career double-doubles (points/rebounds), which included 13 at Florida and 6 at K-State… Among those 19 double-doubles were eight 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles… His first 20/10 double-double came vs. Arkansas (3/14/19) with 20 points and 12 rebounds at the SEC Tournament… Also had 22 points and 12 rebounds vs. St. Joseph’s (11/21/19), 24 points and 10 rebounds vs. Arkansas (2/18/20), 25 points and 11 rebounds vs. LSU (2/26/20) and 24 points and 12 rebounds vs. Boston College (12/3/20), all while at Florida… Accomplished the feat three times at K-State, including 20 points and 12 rebounds at Butler (11/30/22), 23 points and 11 rebounds vs. Nebraska (12/17/22) and 22 points and 12 rebounds at No. 8/8 Kansas (1/31/23).
Grabbed more than 700 rebounds in his college career, including better than 200 3 times.
Dished out 175 assists in his college career, including 77 at K-State in 2022-23.
Had 117 steals in his college career, including 38 in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Connected on better than 47 percent of his field goals in each of his four seasons of college basketball, including hitting on 64.1 percent (25-of-39) in 2020-21… Hit on 56.4 percent (435-of-772) of his 2-point field goals… Has shot better than 64 percent from the free throw line in each of his seasons in college, including better than 76 percent in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
One of the few players to play for and against one of his former schools, as he had a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) in the Wildcats’ win over Florida (1/28/23) in the Big 12/SEC Challenge… Also played against Jerome Tang while Tang was the associate head coach at Baylor, as the Bears defeated the Gators, 72-61, in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 25, 2020, despite a game-high 20 points from Johnson.
Experienced a medical emergency on Dec. 12, 2020, during Florida’s game at Florida State that sidelined him for the remainder of his junior season (2020-21).
Career-High Points: 28, twice (both times at K-State)
- vs. Nevada (11/22/22)
- at No. 6/6 Texas (1/3/23)
Career-High Rebounds: 13 at Alabama (2/16/19) while at Florida
Career-High Assists: 6, twice
- at Texas A&M (2/12/20) while at Florida
- vs. Kansas City (11/17/22) while at K-State
Career-High Steals: 4, 5 times

AS A SENIOR AT KANSAS STATE (2022-23) | 17.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.1 APG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Was a finalist for the Lute Olson National Player of the Year award, while he was named to the National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award and a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy.
Selected to a number of All-America teams, including the Third Team by the Associated Press and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and an honorable mention selection by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).
Was one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Award, which annually goes to the nation’s top small forward by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Chosen to the All-Big 12 First Team by the league coaches and The Associated Press… Also named to the league’s Newcomer of the Year by both.
Named First Team All-District by both the NABC and USBWA.
Named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament team after guiding the Wildcats to the Elite Eight… Averaged 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists during the 4-game NCAA Tournament run, including a 22-point effort in the win over Michigan State (3/23/23).
Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week 5 times (11/14/22, 12/19/22, 1/9/23, 1/23/23, 2/27/23), which was the most any Wildcat since Michael Beasley in 2008.
Was the NCAA March Madness National Player of the Week on Nov. 14 after averaging 14.5 points in the first 2 games, including a near double-double (16 points, 9 rebounds) at California (11/11/22), in his first action since the 2020-21 season.
One of four Wildcats to start all 36 games.
Logged 1,228 minutes, which is the fifth-most in a single season… Averaged 34.1 minutes per game… Played 30 or more minutes in 30 games, while he played 40 or more minutes 3 times with a season-best 45 vs. Michigan State (3/23/23).
Averaged 17.4 points on 51.6 percent (236-of-457) shooting from the field, including 40.5 percent (47-of-116) from 3-point range, to go with a team-best 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 34.1 minutes per game… Hit on 71.5 percent (108-of-151) from the free throw line.
One of just 12 players in school history to eclipse 600 points in a single season at K-State in 2022-23… His 627 points rank No. 9 on the single-season list… Eclipsed 1,000 career points while playing at K-State in a game vs. Radford (12/21/22).
Led the Big 12 in field goal percentage (51.6), while he ranked in the league’s top-15 in 6 total categories, including fourth in scoring (17.4 ppg.), fifth in rebounding (6.8 rpg.) and defensive rebounds (5.3 drp.) and minutes (34.1 mpg.) and 13^th in free throw percentage (71.8).
One of 2 Big 12 players (along with Kansas’ Jalen Wilson) to rank in the Big 12’s top-5 in both scoring and rebounding in all games and Big 12-only games… Finished fourth in scoring (17.4 ppg.) and fifth in rebounding (6.8 rpg.) in all games, while he was third in both scoring (18.1 ppg.) and rebounding (6.9 rpg.) in Big 12-only games.
Collected 6 double-doubles (points/rebounds) during the season, including 3 games of 20 points and 10 rebounds… Those games included 20 points and 12 rebounds at Butler (11/30/22), 23 points and 11 rebounds vs. Nebraska (12/17/22) and 22 points and 12 rebounds at No. 8/8 Kansas (1/31/23).
Scored in double figures in 34 of 36 games played… The 34 double-digit scoring games tied for the second-most in school history and the most since Jacob Pullen set the school record with 37 in 2009-10… Among those were 10 games of 20 or more points… Scored a career-high 28 points twice during the year, including vs. Nevada (11/22/22) and at No. 6/6 Texas (1/3/23).
Led the team in scoring 15 times, including on 5 occasions in Big 12 play.
Registered 20 or more points in the back-to-back wins at No. 6/6 Texas (1/3/23) and No. 19/16 Baylor (1/7/23)… Also had 25 points in the home win over No. 9/10 Baylor (2/21/23).
Was second on the team with 47 made 3-pointers on 40.5 percent shooting… Knocked down at least 3 treys in 4 games, including a season-best 4 at West Virginia (3/4/23).
Led the team in both rebounding (6.8 rpg.) and total rebounds (245)… Led or tied for the team lead in rebounding in 16 games, including 6 double-digit rebounding totals… Twice grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds, including at Butler (11/30/22) and at No. 8/8 Kansas (1/31/23).
Was third on the team with 77 assists… Dished out a career-tying 6 assists vs. Kansas City (11/17/22).
Was third on the team with 37 steals… Has at least 2 steals in 11 games, including a season-best 4 vs. Nebraska (12/17/22).
Started all 18 Big 12 games… Averaged 18.1 points on 50 percent (122-of-244) shooting, including 41 percent (25-of-61) from 3-point range, in league-only games with team-best 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals in 35.7 minutes per game… Connected on 71.3 percent (57-of-80) from the free throw line.
Scored in double figures in 17 of 18 games with 6 20-point games.
Ranked in the Big 12’s top-10 in 5 conference-only categories, including third in scoring (18.1 ppg.), field goal percentage (50.0), rebounding (6.9 rpg.) and defensive rebounds (5.61 drpg.) and seventh in minutes (35.7).
Coached by Jerome Tang.

AS A SENIOR AT FLORIDA (2021-22)

Made an honorary start on Senior Night vs. No. 7 Kentucky (3/5/22), receiving the opening tip before exiting the court to a standing ovation.
Coached by Mike White.

AS A JUNIOR AT FLORIDA (2020-21) | 16.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Played in just 4 games (all starts) in 2020-21 after missing most of the season due to medical emergency experienced in Florida’s fourth game vs. Florida State (12/12/20)… Contributed in film, scout and on-court instruction as a respected voice among his teammates and coaches.
Was averaging 19.7 points on 63.9 percent (23-of-36) with 6 rebounds through the first 3 games before his medical emergency… Averaged 16.0 points on 64.1 percent shooting (25-of-39) with 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 20.3 minutes per game… Connected on 78.6 percent (11-of-14) from the line.
Became one of just eight Gators over the last 25 seasons to post a 24/12 stat line after tallying a 24-point, 12-rebound effort in a neutral-site win over Boston College (12/3/20)… Knocked down 10-of-13 field goals… Joined the likes of Kerry Blackshear, Erik Murphy, Marreese Speights, Joakim Noah, David Lee, Matt Bonner and Greg Stolt.
Totaled 19 points vs. Stetson (12/6/20) on 7-of-13 shooting in 22 minutes.
Opened the year with a 16-point effort in a comeback win over Army West Point (12/2/20).
Coached by Mike White.

AS A SOPHOMORE AT FLORIDA (2019-20) | 14.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.6 APG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Selected First Team All-SEC by the league coaches, while was named to the AP Second Team.
Started all 31 games in 2019-20… The Gators posted a 19-12 record, including an 11-7 mark in SEC play, in a season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Averaged a team-leading 14.0 points on 54.4 percent shooting (166-of-305), including 38 percent (30-of-79) from 3-point range, with 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 31.3 minutes per game… Connected on 76.8 percent (73-of-95) from the line.
Led the team in scoring (14.0 ppg.), field goals made (166) and attempted (305) and steals (38).
Ranked in the SEC’s top-20 in 6 categories, including 14^th in scoring, sixth in field goal percentage, seventh in rebounding and eighth in 3-point field goal percentage.
Scored in double figures in 23 games, including 6 games of 20 or more points… Scored a season-high 25 points vs. LSU (2/26/20) on 11-of-15 shooting, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range… Also registered 20-point games vs. St. Joseph’s (11/21/19), Long Beach State (12/28/19), Baylor (1/25/20), at Vanderbilt (2/1/20) and Arkansas (2/18/20).
Posted 8 double-doubles (points/rebounds) on the season, including 3 20-point and 10-rebound games, which were the most by a Gator since Marreese Speights had four in 2007-08… Was part of the third Florida duo since 1996 to earn 8 or more double-doubles in a single season.
Led the team in scoring 15 times and rebounding 13 times.
Was playing his best basketball before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic with 13 double-digit scoring games in the last 14 games… Averaged 15.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in the last 14 games of the season, including 4 20-point games and 5 double-doubles.
Turned in just the third 25/10/5 stat line since 1996 vs. LSU (2/26/20) with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists to join Nick Calathes and Matt Walsh.
Posted 24 points vs. Arkansas (2/18/20), which included a 15-of-17 effort from the free throw line… Became the fourth Gator since 1996 to score 24 or more points on 7 or fewer field goal attempts and the fourth in that time to make 15 or more free throws.
Secured 10 points and 12 rebounds in the Gators’ 21-point double-overtime win in the SEC opener vs. Alabama (1/4/20).
Scored 13 of his 15 points vs. Georgia (2/5/20) in the second half to help Florida match a program-record 22-point comeback victory.
Twice earned MVP honors in tournament play… Named the Charleston Classic MVP after averaging 16.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in helping the Gators earn their first holiday tournament title in 10 years… Tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds vs. Providence (12/17/19) in Brooklyn to earn Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational MVP honors.
Started all 18 SEC games… Averaged 14.2 points on 55.9 percent (95-of-170) shooting, including 38.3 percent (18-of-47) in 3-point range, in league play with 7.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 32.5 minutes per game… Connected on 78.7 percent (48-of-61) from the line.
Scored in double figures in 14 games in SEC play, including 3 20-point performances…
Had 6 double-doubles in SEC play, including a pair of 20-point/10-rebound efforts.
Coached by Mike White.

AS A FRESHMAN AT FLORIDA (2018-19) | 8.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.3 APG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Saw action in all 36 games in 2018-19… Started the last 20 games, including both NCAA Tournament games… The Gators posted a 20-16 record, including a 9-9 mark in SEC play, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Averaged 8.1 points on 47 percent shooting (111-of-236) with 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 23.8 minutes per game… Connected on 64.3 percent (45-of-70) from the line.
Led the team in rebounding while was third in steals and fifth in scoring.
His 229 rebounds rank fifth for a Florida freshman in program history, trailing only Donnell Harvey, Ronnie Williams, Bradley Beal and Eugene McDowell.
Scored in double figures 12 times, including a season-high 20 points vs. Arkansas (3/14/19) in the SEC Tournament on 8-of-14 field goals, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range…
Totaled 4 double-doubles, including 3 in postseason play with 2 in the SEC Tournament and 1 in the NCAA Tournament.
Became the third Florida freshman to post a double-double in an NCAA Tournament game with 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. Nevada (3/21/19)… Joined the likes of Bradley Beal and Mike Miller… Johnson and Beal were the only two to do so in their NCAA Tournament debut.
Was the Gators’ leading scorer and rebounder at the SEC Tournament, averaging 13.7 points and 10 rebounds over 3 games.
His 20-point, 12-rebound effort vs. Arkansas (3/14/19) was the first by a Florida freshman in SEC Tournament play since Donnell Harvey in 2000… Followed that with 16 points and 10 rebounds in a win over No. 9 LSU (3/15/19) in the quarterfinals.
Started the last 20 games of the season, posting 8 double-digit scoring games and averaging 9.5 points on 45.5 percent (71-of-156) shooting… Posted his first career 20-point game vs. Arkansas (3/14/19) at the SEC Tournament to go with 12 rebounds.
Grabbed his first career double-double at Alabama (2/16/19) with 14 points and 13 rebounds… Became the first Gator to post at least 13 points and rebounds in a game since Dorian Finney-Smith (Feb. 20, 2016, vs. South Carolina)… It also marked the most rebounds by a Florida freshman in an SEC game since Al Horford (Feb. 5, 2005, vs. Alabama).
Saw action in all 18 SEC games with 14 starts… Averaged 7.9 points on 44.3 percent (51-of-115) shooting, including 35.5 percent (11-of-31) in 3-point range, in conference play with 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals in 25.1 minutes per game… Connected on 72.5 percent (29-of-40) from the free throw line.
Scored in double figures in 6 games in SEC play.
Coached by Mike White.

HIGH SCHOOL

A consensus top-100 prospect by nearly every recruiting service, including No. 62 by Rivals, No. 69 by 247Sports and No. 70 by ESPN… Rated a four-star prospect.
Played his senior season at famed Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., where he helped the Warriors to a 44-2 overall record and a trip to the semifinals of the GEICO National Tournament in 2017-18… The 44 wins were the fourth-most in program history.
Averaged better than 18 points per game on 66 percent shooting, including 19 games with 18 or more points… Led the team with 126 dunks.
Named MVP of the 2018 Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo., after averaging 21.7 points per game.
Had more than 24 scholarship offers, including UConn, Kansas, Ohio State and Texas Tech.
Coached by Steve Smith.

PERSONAL

Marrecus Keyontae Johnson was born May 24, 2000… Son of Marrecus and Sharnika Johnson… Mother, Sharnika, is a sheriff… Has three siblings (Brianna, Ebony and Zimarya).
Nicknames growing up included ‘Red’ and ‘KeyDaKid’.
Earned a bachelor's degree in Education Sciences from Florida in Spring 2022… Working towards a master’s degree in conflict analysis and trauma.