Florida basketball: Keyontae Johnson is Gators’ biggest cheerleader in March Madness

Florida basketball’s Keyontae Johnson can’t play in March Madness, but he’s supporting the Gators on the sideline with energy.

Four months ago, Keyontae Johnson’s collapse on the court against Florida State was a terrifying moment for college basketball.

The forward spent three days in a medically induced coma while players, fans, and coaches around the nation prayed for his recovery.

Now, Johnson’s presence at the NCAA Tournament is sure to warm some hearts. He’s the ultimate cheerleader on the Gator’s sideline.

In four games in 2020, Johnson led the Gators with 16 points per game. He was the team’s leading scorer in the 2019-20 season as well and came into the 2020-21 season as the central player for Florida.

Keyontae Johnson returned from a scary medical emergency as a coach

Unfortunately, Johnson’s playing days are over. Still, he’s done what he can to contribute to Florida’s trip to the NCAA Tournament. In late December, he returned to the team as a coach, helping the staff to scout opponents and assisting at practice.

The Gators went on to finish the regular season with a 15-9 record despite Johnson’s absence on the court. They earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament and beat No. 10 seed Virginia Tech in the Round of 64.

Unfortunately, they were unable to survive No. 15 seed Oral Roberts, meaning the last time the Gators made the Sweet 16 was in 2017, a tournament that also included an Elite Eight appearance.

Johnson arrived the year after that big season but still had a chance to play a role in tournament success, even if it wasn’t exactly how he might have imagined it.

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