Keyontae Johnson declares for NBA Draft but leaves door open for Kansas State return

Kellis Robinett
·2 min read
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Keyontae Johnson is keeping his basketball options open.

The talented Kansas State forward has announced that he will declare for the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility, which means he could turn pro or return to the Wildcats next season.

First off, he will spend the next few months testing the professional waters by working out in front of scouts. His focus is currently on the NBA Draft.

Odds are high he will turn pro for good this summer, as he is currently projected as an early second-round pick. But it is interesting that he has left the door open for a return to K-State if the process does not go well. Many assumed his college days were over no matter what.

Johnson averaged 17.4 points and 6.8 rebounds as a senior for Jerome Tang and the Kansas State basketball team. He was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and he earned third-team All America honors from several outlets.

His scoring, rebounding and leadership helped the Wildcats win 26 games and reach the Elite Eight.

He burst back onto the college basketball scene after spending two years away from the court because of a heart ailment. Johnson started his career at Florida and went through a scary incident in which he collapsed on the court during a game against Florida State.

No one was sure if he would survive, let alone play basketball at a high level again. His return the court at K-State and the success that followed made him an inspirational story last season.

Johnson has already played five seasons of college basketball, so he would likely need a waiver to return to the college ranks for another season. But that may be within reach given that he only played four games as a junior at Florida and his only appearance in 2021-22 was a ceremonial start on the Gators’ senior day.

Before his health scare, Johnson was projected as a possible lottery pick. His ability to shoot from long range and rebound makes him a NBA draft prospect.

He will work to move up draft boards over the next few months. He has until May 31 to decide if he wants to return to college and until June 12 to withdraw from the draft for any other reason.