Florida Gators College Player Placed In Medically Induced Coma

KEY POINTS

Keyontae Johnson's condition remains the same but placed in an induced coma
His grandfather is unsure if Johnson tested positive for COVID-19
The Gators are keeping tabs with Johnson's state

Keyontae Johnson remains under observation and his status remains the same.

He is in critical but stable condition. The Florida Gators junior player was placed in a medically induced coma to keep him sedated, according to his grandfather Larry DeJarnett Johnson.

“They’re just not sure,” DeJarnett said in a report from Tallahassee.com. “He may have had activity in the brain, so they induced the coma. They put him on medication to keep him sedated.”

After getting initial treatment in Tallahassee, Johnson was moved to a Gainesville hospital. He was responding to simple commands and underwent tests before being placed in a medically induced coma.

Doctors are hoping to see him come out of the coma sometime Monday afternoon.

As mentioned in a previous post, Johnson collapsed face-first in the early part of the Gators basketball match against rival Florida State. He was coming off a huddle with his teammates when he collapsed somewhere near center court.

Before that, Johnson was coming off a highlight play. He connected Tyree Appleby in an alley-hoop play and could be seen celebrating with the entire squad before the timeout. The Gators were ahead at that point, 11-3.

What has yet to be established is whether the shocking development was COVID-19 related. Johnson was one of several players who tested positive for the coronavirus.

But as far as DeJarnett is concerned, he remains clueless if his grandson ever contracted the virus.

“I know that there was some of the times when some of the team was quarantined, yes. I don’t know if he was one of them or not,” DeJarnett stated.

Florida was forced to put on hold team activities last month due to the COVID-19 findings. Coach Mike White bared that they also had previous issues but did not elaborate due to privacy laws, USA Today reported.

Johnson was selected as the SEC Preseason Player of the Year and was showing the way for the Gators in their first three wins. He passed on joining the NBA Draft, opting to continue playing for the University of Florida.

The Gators did not practice on Monday and were given the choice to work out or lift weights, ESPN reported.