‘They Gave Me a Second Probability to Play Basketball’
A tattoo upon the left arm of Keyontae Johnson reads, “Write Your Personal Story.”
The trip for the fifth-year senior and No. 11 Kansas State could not be scripted significantly better to this point this season.
As soon as informed that he would by no means once more play at Florida following a scary collapse that he suffered within the fifth recreation of the 2020-21 season, the previous SEC Preseason Participant of the 12 months is headed towards All-Massive 12 First Workforce honors whereas the Wildcats proceed to carry robust as a top-four seed for the NCAA Match.
“I really feel like God put me into this place to play and there isn’t any turning round now,” Johnson mentioned. “Earlier than the season began, we all the time mentioned we have been going to make the NCAA Match. We simply targeted on successful every day and we saved successful. That gave us confidence that we may very well be good.
“To be ranked this excessive is a blessing.”
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Johnson, who collected his fifth Massive 12 Newcomer of the Week honor on Monday, heads towards his remaining dwelling recreation of his solely season at Ok-State when the Wildcats, 22-7 general and 10-6 within the Massive 12, meet Oklahoma, 14-15 and 4-12, on Senior Night time at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum.
Simply as Johnson, a 2023 NBA Draft prospect, feels blessed that first-year Ok-State had coach Jerome Tang gave him the prospect to play basketball once more after a two-year absence following his medical scare, the Wildcats, too, really feel blessed to have watched Johnson star alongside senior level guard Markquis Nowell over the previous 5 months.
“I like Ok-State,” Johnson mentioned. “That is like my second dwelling for positive. I simply admire everyone round right here who appreciates me to return right here. I admire the chance. Coach Tang and the teaching employees all the time mentioned that they believed in me and I would be capable of play.”
He is writing fairly a narrative this season.
Johnson ranks second in scoring (17.6), second in field-goal share (52.0%), fourth in rebounds (7.1), and fourth in minutes performed (33:00) within the Massive 12 this season. He joins Kansas’ Jalen Wilson as the one gamers to rank top-five within the Massive 12 in scoring and rebounding each in general and league-only video games.
“I do not need to put a ceiling on him or put a ground on him,” Tang mentioned earlier this season. “He is a extremely good basketball participant and he is actually proficient and each second that he will get to play is a particular alternative. He is simply a kind of guys who can go get it. He can get sizzling and go get it.”
Johnson averaged 21 factors on 60% taking pictures, together with 55.6% from 3-point vary, and averaged 3.0 rebounds and a pair of.5 assists in 38.5 minutes throughout wins in opposition to No. 9 Baylor (75-65) and at Oklahoma State (73-68) final week. He led all scorers with 25 factors and shot 11-of-17 from the ground in opposition to the Bears for his eighth 20-point recreation, together with his fifth in Massive 12 play. He adopted with 17 factors at Oklahoma State, going 7-of-13 from the ground, together with 3-of-5 from past the arc.
He topped 500 factors this season throughout his newest efficiency and likewise eclipsed 1,300 profession factors within the win.
“Key undoubtedly took this crew from being good to being promising,” mentioned Nowell, who earned Massive 12 Participant of the Week. “He is only a dynamic participant, scorer and chief. He desires to win. I am unsure the place we might be with out him, however most likely not on this place.”
It is one thing that the Wildcats do not take evenly.
“He is been an enormous inspiration for me and for the entire crew,” senior guard Nate Awbrey mentioned. “He was informed that he may by no means play basketball once more. Coach Tang talks concerning the quantity of religion that we’ve is how huge God is that we get to expertise. Only for Keyontae to have the religion that he was not solely going to play basketball once more, however on the Massive 12 stage, and to play on the stage he is enjoying it, he is unbelievable.”
His efforts have gained discover this season.
“He will definitely have alternatives to make an NBA roster and there’s a good likelihood he’ll hear his identify known as on the 2023 NBA Draft as properly,” NBADraft.internet wrote.
He is listed at No. 57 on Sports activities Illustrated‘s draft board.
“He is been nothing in need of spectacular,” CBSSports.com wrote.
Johnson mentioned that he is not targeted but on the NCAA Match. The Wildcats wrap up their common season at West Virginia on Saturday, then are prone to earn a first-round bye within the Massive 12 Championship, which begins March 8 at T-Cell Heart in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
“You may’t have any off nights,” Johnson mentioned. “You are doing it in entrance of sellout crowds. It is a good feeling. For a basketball participant, that is it. Immediately we’ll have observe and watch movie from the final recreation and simply take it daily and never look forward.
“We’re simply attempting to complete out the convention robust.”
Johnson and Ok-State’s story will pause momentarily when Johnson is acknowledged on Senior Night time in entrance of a sellout Bramlage.
“I really feel like it will be an evening the place lots of people simply admire me coming right here and me getting the chance,” Johnson mentioned. “It’s going to be huge for me as a result of I will be me thanking Ok-State for having me right here.
“They gave me a second likelihood to play basketball.”
And the story is not completed.
