GAINESVILLE — Florida’s Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed during a game last season, is deciding whether to try to get medically cleared to play professionally or cash in a $5 million insurance policy, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.
The senior forward’s policy went into effect in July 2020, five months before he crashed face-first onto the court at Florida State, the report said, citing two people with knowledge of the situation. Both people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns.
Johnson, 22, hasn’t practiced or played since. The Gators don’t anticipate him being medically cleared to return this season, The Associated Press said.
“He’s very much a big part of our program,” Florida coach Mike White said last week. “No change in status at all. Not practicing. Coaching, helping organize practice, prepare for practice, doing some officiating. He’s active in drill work.
”He’s getting a taste of some individual meetings with guys at times, trying to motivate, trying to hold (guys) accountable. He’s doing whatever he can. He’s an unselfish guy. He’s a winner. He’s always going to be, and he’s doing whatever he can to help his teammates and to help us as a staff.”
Johnson sat at the end of Florida’s bench during the team’s exhibition game Monday, an 80-57 victory over Embry-Riddle, and offered guidance to teammates. Johnson remains enrolled in school and on scholarship. He is scheduled to graduate in April.
Johnson, the SEC preseason player of the year in 2020, has turned his attention toward pursing a potential NBA career, The Associated Press said. He would need medical clearance — something that hasn’t happened in the 11 months since his collapse in December — and then pass any number of tests before being allowed to attend next year’s NBA combine and/or privately work out for teams.
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, The Associated Press said. If he does trigger the insurance policy on which Florida paid the premiums, there’s an option for him to take the $5 million as a lump sum.
There is no deadline for Johnson to make a decision on his future. If he doesn’t play again, he has the lucrative policy to offset the loss of future earnings.
College basketball players are eligible for the NCAA’s Exceptional Disability Insurance Program if they have eligibility remaining and have the potential to be selected in the first round of the upcoming NBA or WNBA draft. The program also covers football, baseball and men’s ice hockey.
Football and men’s basketball players can be insured for up to $10 million.
Johnson and his family have remained quiet in recent months. They declined requests to be interviewed for this story.
They released a statement in February saying his collapse was not related to a previous positive coronavirus test, citing a consultation team that included experts from four highly respected schools of medicine.
The family did not say what doctors believed caused Johnson’s collapse.
— By MARK LONG
• • •
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