Keyontae Johnson unlikely to play for Florida this season

It doesn’t appear the Kentucky Wildcats will see Florida Gators star Keyontae Johnson this season.

Per a report from the AP, Johnson is currently in the process of deciding whether to push for medical clearance and turn pro or cash in on a $5 million insurance policy.

Johnson, a senior, collapsed in the middle of Florida’s game against Florida State on December 12 of last season and was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later placed in a medically-induced coma. He was released from the hospital on December 22 and rejoined the Gators on December 28 though he did not play the remainder of the 2020-21 season upon return.

While Johnson chose to return to Florida for his senior year after weighing his pro options this summer, he is not expected to be medically cleared to play, and the AP reports he is not practicing.

Now, his basketball future is in question.

Per the AP, “Johnson’s policy provides him enough flexibility to take steps toward playing professionally and still be able to reverse course and make an insurance claim, one source said. If he does trigger the insurance policy that Florida paid the premiums on, there’s an option for him to take the $5 million as a lump sum. There’s no timetable or deadline for Johnson to make a decision on his future.”

Johnson was last season’s SEC Preseason Player of the Year after he averaged 14 points per game during the 2019-20 season.