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John Calipari admitted he got emotional just seeing Kansas State wing Keyontae Johnson back on the court playing. Two years ago he collapsed on the court while playing at Florida because of a heart ailment and missed two full seasons.
Now he’s a key player for Kansas State going into today’s game against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament East Region.
“It means a lot from Coach Cal. He is one of the great coaches. We have a great relationship. Just playing against them and just showing the respect they have for my game,” Johnson said.
“Last year he wanted me to score (on Senior Night at Florida), but I didn’t know at the time. But I really appreciate coach Cal and everything he has done.”
Kentucky senior Oscar Tshiebwe is also a friend of Johnson, who scored 18 points for Kansas State in its NCAA Tournament opener Friday and has been one of college basketball’s most inspirational stories this season.
“He is my boy,” Tshiebwe said Saturday. “I knew him since high school, so when he went through everything, so I just reached out to him, and I told him I’m keeping you in my prayers. Just keep praying. Let’s just keep trusting in God.
“God is going to bring you better than you were before. That’s how our friendship is good. Reach out sometimes, check up on him once in a while to see how he is doing.”
Johnson said Tshiebwe has been in contact with him since his medical emergency on the court.
“We have just been close since then,” he said. “I text him. He texts here and there, probably once every two months or something. But we are real cool. Like one of my brothers.”
Johnson won’t treat Tshiebwe like a brother on the court and knows stopping Tshiebwe won’t be easy.
“It’s going to be a team effort. We know he gives them a lot of second-chance points, so we just have to limit their offensive rebounds, box him out, find him when they get shots up,” Johnson, a wing player, said.
“He is going to get his no matter what. That’s what he does. He was national Player of the Year last year. We have to have a team effort on him. We all will come together and have a solution for it.”
