K-State's Johnson gets medical OK for NBA draft

The NBA's Fitness to Play panel has cleared Kansas State guard/forward Keyontae Johnson, allowing for him to be selected in the June NBA draft, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Ross Aroyo of Priority Sports told ESPN on Friday.

NBA teams were informed of Johnson's clearance in a memo shared from the league office on Friday afternoon. Johnson, considered a potential late first-round pick in the draft, will now be eligible to start traveling and working out for prospective teams, Bartelstein said.

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

As a member of the Florida Gators in 2020, Johnson, 23, collapsed on the court against Florida State and spent three days in a medically induced coma. He was diagnosed with a heart condition, but he eventually was cleared to play again and landed at Kansas State, where he was voted the 2023 Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year.

After suffering the heart episode in early December of his junior season for Florida, Johnson had one ceremonious appearance for the Gators during the 2020-2021 season before getting clearance to play again at Kansas State this past season.

Johnson averaged 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists on a team that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.