Keyontae Johnson to Enter NBA Draft, But Maintain Eligibility
Kansas State star forward Keyontae Johnson announced Sunday his intentions to put his name in the 2023 NBA Draft, but also keep his collegiate eligibility, should he elect to return. In the process of making the announcement, he penned a letter to a number of people who have helped him along the way.
Dear K-State,
God blessed me with another opportunity in life and to play the game I love. On August 20th, I committed to Kansas State and it was the beginning of the best season of my collegiate career, hands down!
I was welcomed with open arms by the coaching staff, my teammates and the K-State fans. The way you all welcomed me, embraced me, supported and encouraged me exceeded any and all expectations I had arriving in Manhattan. The brothers I gained and the staff always pushed me to leave it all on the court and I will never forget that!
Kansas State, I gave you guys my blood, sweat and tears and in return, you all gave me the confidence I needed to take this next step, one that I have dreamed of my whole life. I bet on myself, but I wouldn’t be here without you, which is why this announcement is so bittersweet.
I will be moving on to the next chapter in my life, but I will still need your love, support, and most importantly your prayers. With that being said, I will be entering my name in the 2023 NBA Draft while maintaining my eligibility. My story continues to be written.
Johnson scored as much as anybody during March, pouring in 15.5 points per game to go along with 5.0 rebounds per game. That all helped him earn East Region All-Tournament Honors.
In his lone season with the Wildcats after transferring from Florida, Johnson averaged 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He shot 51.6% from the field, including 40.5% from 3-point range.
He also played large portions of two seasons with the Gators before his medical incident sidelined him and put his career in jeopardy. In those two as a freshman and sophomore, Johnson averaged 8.1 points and 14.0 points per contest, respectively. Including those campaigns, he averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 boards and 1.6 dimes per game.
