UF Men’s Basketball: Johnson Voted Preseason SEC Player of the Year by Media, Gators Selected to Finish Fourth
Courtesy of University Athletic Association
BY RYAN SOSIC
The All-SEC Junior received preseason recognition from select national and SEC media members.
Junior All-SEC forward Keyontae Johnson was voted the Preseason Southeastern Conference Player of the Year by select conference and national media members, the league announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Johnson, who was named to the Julius Erving Award Preseason Watch List last week, earns Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC preseason accolades after leading UF in points per game (14.0) and steals (38) in 31 appearances as a sophomore in 2019-20. The Norfolk, Va. native received recognition on the 2019-20 All-SEC teams (Coaches First Team, AP Second Team) to cap off his second collegiate season, in which he led the Gators in points 15 times, as well as grabbing the most rebounds in 13 contests.
In addition to Johnson’s honor, the voters tabbed Florida to finish fourth in the preseason poll behind Tennessee, Kentucky, and LSU.
The Gators are set to begin their 2020-21 campaign at the Basketball Hall of Fame Bubbleville on Nov. 25 against UMass Lowell and Nov. 27 versus Virginia at the Mohegan Sun Arena. After an eight-game nonconference slate, Florida will jump into SEC action on Dec. 30 at Vanderbilt before welcoming LSU on Jan. 2 in their conference home opener at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
First Team All-SEC
John Petty Jr., Alabama
Keyontae Johnson, Florida
Brandon Boston Jr., Kentucky
Trendon Watford, LSU
John Fulkerson, Tennessee
Second Team All-SEC
Olivier Sarr, Kentucky
Javonte Smart, LSU
Dru Smith, Missouri
AJ Lawson, South Carolina
Yves Pones, Tennessee
Savion Flagg, Texas A&M
SEC Player of the Year
Keyontae Johnson, Florida
Preseason Media Poll
1. Tennessee
2. Kentucky
3. LSU
4. Florida
5. Alabama
6. Arkansas
7. Auburn
8. South Carolina
9. Ole Miss
10. Missouri
11. Texas A&M
12. Mississippi State
13. Georgia
14. Vanderbilt