Kansas State Basketball: Wildcats get a big transfer pickup in Keyontae Johnson
Kansas State Basketball may have just landed the best player on its roster in Keyontae Johnson. But will he have a major impact on the Wildcats?
After a long and fairly quiet offseason, Florida transfer Keyontae Johnson was in the news the past week with a final four list of contenders for his services. It included Nebraska, Western Kentucky, Memphis, and Kansas State Basketball. In the end, it was the Wildcats that won out in the recruitment.
BREAKING: Keyontae Johnson expected to commit to Kansas State, source told @Stadium. Huge pickup for Jerome Tang and Co.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 20, 2022
Johnson has been cleared by medical personnel.
Averaged 14 ppg and 7.1 rpg as a sophomore, but hasn't played in 2 years after collapsing due to heart issue
Johnson’s story is well-known at this point if you’re a college basketball fan. After a sophomore breakout season, the 6’7 forward was a Preseason SEC Player of the Year candidate in 2020. But after being diagnosed with a heart condition after collapsing on the court during a game, his basketball career was in serious jeopardy. He wouldn’t get medically cleared at Florida and entered the transfer portal in hopes of continuing to play.
It looks as if Kansas State felt comfortable from a medical standpoint to allow Johnson to play this upcoming season. New head coach Jerome Tang has experience in this kind of situation, dealing with Jared Butler at Baylor a couple of years ago with his own medical questions. It worked out well for everyone involved, with the Bears winning a national title and Butler playing a large role as a starting guard.
Johnson may not be leading the Wildcats to a national title next season but assuming he’s healthy and good to go, gives the team a go-to player on offense. Throughout the offseason, the program has added eight transfers but most were solid mid-major players or power conference guys that didn’t have much playing time at their previous stops. It wasn’t the most talented roster and in the Big 12, it could be a recipe for disaster.
But Johnson is a proven all-conference talent and double-digit contributor. He’s an efficient scorer and could easily lead Kansas State in scoring next season. His presence will make everyone on the court with him better and make their respective jobs easier as a result.
Next. Strength/weakness of each top-25 team. dark
Kansas State Basketball is rebuilding under year 1 of the Tang era and even with Keyontae Johnson, should still be viewed as a longshot of making the 2023 NCAA Tournament. But his addition will make them more competitive and a potential thorn in the sides of the top teams in the Big 12 next season.