Johnson Voted Preseason SEC Player of the Year by Media, Gators Selected to Finish Fourth
Thursday, November 12, 2020 | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – 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 where he would lead the Gators in points 15 times, as well 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 its 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
Second Team All-SEC
SEC Player of the Year
Preseason Media Poll
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 where he would lead the Gators in points 15 times, as well 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 its 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 |
Players Mentioned
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