Guy UF wouldn’t clear medically makes NBA G-League All Star game

I don’t really think it applies to anyone, but you applied it to 75% of this board. I think you got the responses you got because of the way you approached the conversation, same way you’ve approached this one. Hands up looking for a fight.

Nobody here was ever against Key. Not UF, nor any posters here that I ever saw, not on this issue anyway. Even those suggesting taking the insurance money was a good idea were not against Keyontae.

 

Except it wasn’t. It started with “guy uf wouldn’t medically clear”. You wanted a fight from the start.

Your thread title invoked those responses. You have been the one pushing the conversation to focus on UF not clearing him. Your first response in the thread a few days ago led with it, the post you made in the game thread led with it, the thread you started and we’re currently conversing on led with it. You are the driver of this topic of conversation. Nobody else is still talking about it, they’re just congratulating him. You’re the one who keeps directing the conversation towards him not being cleared.

 

Always!

 

I have zero interest in entering this dust-up. I’ll just add I thought the title of the thread was a little odd. It reads like some non-Gator fan concocted it (“Guy”); not a gigantic, very engaged Gator basketball fan. I’ll admit it was strange at the time he signed with a KState , like wishing he could play for us; since then, I have not thought 5 seconds about it.
I think we are all just happy for the kid.

 

I doubt there was anyone among Gator Nation - fans, teammates, coaches, etc. who didn't want KJ to play at UF. It's a matter of folks who acknowledged a very unfortunate truth that UF was not going to risk allowing him to play. The real argument, imo, is whether or not one believes that was a smart decision. Beyond this, I'll do my best to steer clear of the discussion. Like others mentioned, it's over and done with.

 

This really isn’t a topic I can be bitter about. People do not realize how traumatic this was for the team, players. coaches and program. We were very, very close to canceling the season. It was such an incredibly jarring event that I just don’t think Florida could ever find comfort seeing Key on the floor. Was it the right decision? In retrospect… I guess you could argue it wasn’t.
But I know the coaches who were on our bench that day… and there isn’t a bitter one among the group. They couldn’t be happier for how things have unfolded for Key.
I feel the same way.

 

It was a tough thing for the Gators and the whole season turned on that one moment. We had FSU reeling on their home court, then we lost Key, our best player by far and a preseason All-SEC, and the team unraveled emotionally. Our guys looked shocked and FSU took over the game.

Anyway, I think the program is headed in the right direction now. We are in a position where we have more depth and can better overcome the loss of key players.

 

I'm just happy for Key. What has unfolded for him is the absolute best outcome possible. He was very fortunate that it happened when and where it did because it could have happened in a much different scenario where he didn't survive.

As for the argument in this thread, as a lawyer I can understand why UF didn't clear him. And I don't believe that anything that has happened since then has any bearing on whether UF made the correct decision at the time. Yes, it is Key's career but there are also people who are paid to look out for UF's interests and they decided that UF shouldn't take on a risk. They had all the facts. We didn't and still don't. So, for me it is difficult to criticize that decision. And just because a different school made a different decision shouldn't change the analysis that UF did based on the facts, risks and considerations before it at the time. Reasonable people can come to different conclusions given the same fact situation. Reasonable people have different risk tolerances. So, it doesn't surprise me that another school came to a different conclusion on close to the same considerations (e.g. it didn't happen there).

Of course, I'm sure Key was disappointed he had to go play somewhere else but it wasn't career ending. Who knows, it might have been beneficial.

 

I wasnt talking about you. I was just talking in general terms. If I was specifically talking to you I wouldve hit the reply button to one of your posts. Again, I was speaking in general terms.

 

Good for Keyontae Johnson and hopefully he goes on to have success in the NBA.

That said, I have no issue with the way UF handled the situation. Let’s face it, top schools weren’t exactly chasing Johnson once he entered the portal as it was reported he chose Kansas State over Nebraska, Western Kentucky and Memphis. Decent basketball schools (especially Memphis) but not exactly a who’s who that you would expect to go after a player that had been regarded as the preseason SEC POTY just a year earlier.