Florida Gators basketball star Keyontae Johnson addressed the audience on Friday for the first time since he crashed during a game last Saturday. In a short video statement, Johnson thanked his fans and doctors for the support he received while hospitalized.
“First of all, I would like to thank God. I know you have been sending your prayers for the past few weeks, and my parents and I are very grateful for the prayers that have come out,” Johnson said.
“To all the doctors and medical staff at Tallahassee Memorial and UF Shands, I want to thank you for all the support you have given me, especially the lady who was in the gym in Florida,” he added. “To my Gator nation and the UF athletic family, I just want to thank you for all the prayers you have given me. Go Gators.”
Johnson, pre-season of the Southeastern Conference of the Year, crashed last Saturday during a game against Florida state Seminoles. The 21-year-old received brief medical attention on the side of the court before being transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
The Gators said shortly after that Johnson was in a stable but critical condition. Tuesday, said his parents he was breathing alone and talking to his doctors and colleagues.
Two days later, the team wrote on Twitter that he was showing “truly encouraging signs of progress.”
It is not yet clear what caused Johnson to collapse. This summer, he tested positive for COVID-19, which can cause a heart muscle infection known as myocarditis. But the rules of the conference require players to undergo heart tests and physical exams before they can return to the field.
Zoe Christen Jones contributed to the reporting.