Keyontae Johnson cleared to be selected in NBA draft, agents say

The NBA’s fitness-to-play panel has cleared Kansas State guard/forward Keyontae Johnson for selection in the June NBA draft, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Ross Aroyo of Priority Sports told ESPN on Friday .

NBA teams were notified of Johnson’s clearance in a memo from the league office Friday afternoon. Johnson, who is considered a potential late first-round pick in the draft, is now eligible to travel and train for prospective teams, Bartelstein said.

Johnson had interviews with teams at the Chicago Pre-Draft Combine last week.

As a member of the Florida Gators in 2020, 23-year-old Johnson collapsed on the field against Florida State and spent three days in a medically-induced coma. He was diagnosed with heart disease, but was eventually allowed to play again and ended up at Kansas State, where he was named the 2023 Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year.

After suffering a heart attack in early December of his junior season for Florida, Johnson made a celebratory appearance for the Gators in the 2020-2021 season before being allowed back to play at Kansas State last season.

Johnson averaged 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists on a team that made it into the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.