Family: COVID-19 not cause of Florida's Keyontae Johnson's collapse

In a statement released by the Florida Gators men's basketball team on Wednesday, the family of junior forward Keyontae Johnson said that his collapse during the Dec. 12 game against the Florida State Seminoles was not related to the coronavirus. 

University of Florida Health treating physicians consulted with other local and national experts who reviewed the relevant imaging and testing related to this case, Johnson's family said. 

The unanimous conclusion of all experts is that Keyontae's medical emergency was not related to or a result of a previous or current COVID diagnosis.

The consultation team included physicians from the Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Gainesville, University of Washington Center for Sports Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Yale University School of Medicine.

We continue to be committed to sharing any information that could be helpful to others. Our hope is that the experts' conclusion that this instance is not COVID-related will bring some peace of mind.

As Myron Medcalf explained for ESPN, Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 at some point during the summer. The virus has been linked with myocarditis, a potentially severe heart condition that has impacted multiple college and pro athletes during the pandemic. 

It remains unknown exactly what caused Johnson to collapse. Following a hospital stay, he returned to the team in late December to serve as a coach.

"He will spend the rest of the season focused on being the best coach and teammate he can be," Johnson's family added. "What comes next for Keyontae is for him to share on his own timeline." 

Johnson was selected All-SEC for the 2019-20 season and began December as a first-round NBA prospect.