Highly doubt he ever plays the game again. That’s a shame but too risky to take a chance of another incident and it not end as well as the first time.
Considering it seemed touch and go if he’d live, it could be worse. Obviously it sucks because he was a special talent. Probably an all time great Gator career (factoring his would have been junior year) cut short. Definitely one of the most unique/exciting players I remember in a Gator uniform. But everyone’s sports career ends at some point, and he’ll still have opportunities. Obviously he had potential to make millions as a pro and that is in peril (pending if there’s any type of small consolation insurance payout), that’s got to be brutal to think about. But then again he’s in the same boat as everyone else outside of elite sports, and he can probably still get a leg up from basketball. Seems like embracing the college experience while he can, graduating, and working as a sort of undergrad assistant is a good start. The crazy thing is if he had gone pro and collapsed in a different circumstance or different environment, he very well might not have lived. Potentially the same even if it happened at a Gator practice or a pick-up game. Almost fortunate in a way it happened in a full arena and a cardiologist was right there.
If he can’t play, I hope he finds his footing as a coach. Still tied to the game and lots of money to be made there for many more years as a player if you’re good at it.
It seems odd that Key is not medically cleared to play but has not been medically permanently barred from playing. It seems like there should be a definitive yes or no after this much time.
Super sensitive topic for UF. If the info. on the board is correct, it seems the decisions and info. about that decision (to continue a playing career) will emanate from the family.
I had offered this theory in another thread . . . Key had recently said that a definitive diagnosis remained elusive. . . and suggested the event could have been a "freak incident". Given the passage of time and apparent absence of diagnosis. . . I suspect no chronic heart condition was revealed, and no damage to the heart determined. I suspect Florida and its doctors . . . and perhaps Keyontae's . . . are not comfortable clearing him to play without "knowing". I can see both sides to this discussion. On one hand . . . the kid very nearly died, so something was very obviously wrong. Prudence and caution suggest he not play. The flip side. . . if his heart shows no damage - and is functioning free of any condition, and like the heart of any other athlete . . . is halting his career and potential livelihood, overcautious? There was a period of days during which I truly felt depressed . . . heartbroken by the thought that Keyontae was likely to die. As such - it is a blessing that a basketball discussion is even on the table.
Knowing what I know about "life" right now and at my age, I would suggest KJ "Go FOR IT". Hey the guy may invent light speed space engines for all I know but the reality for him even coming close to his fame as a UF basketball star and/or making the kind of cake that he could potentially make overseas or in the NBA will be most difficult to replicate with a 4 year or even per-professional degree from UF. But this is just a 2 cents post on a message board, his situation is physical and mental. Might be tough to get back on the horse knowing there may be a risk. I feel for the guy.
The school isn’t going to say anything-Key has HIPAA rights. And I don’t think a doctor will tell him his career is over-but they’d recommend he not play any longer if that’s how they defeat. Problem is, there apparently are no clear answers. He’s in no mans land. Seems no one will tell him either way because it doesn’t sound like anyone really knows definitively what happened. It’s horrible for the kid but the image of Hank Gathers twitching on the court is still haunting. Go live a long and productive life, Key. Make a difference. We’ll remember you for that as well.
I don't think the school is subject to HIPAA rules. I could be wrong. In general, the public is misinformed about HIPAA and think it means nobody can say anything about a person's medical situation. That's not really true.
you might be correct as the school is not a health care organization per se. guess I really meant they may owe key a duty of general confidentiality.
I beleive he is going to accept his role as student-coach or he will leave for a program who is not quite as "risk adverse" as UF must be. I prefer he hang in there in his new career. BTW, I wish I did not see media references of him being "a potential first round pick." He was never going to be one of those, merely a guy a team may take a flier on. If he was a FRP he would have been after his soph season. Not tall enough to be one.
Well, sure, YOLO. Makes a nice slogan. Doesn't mean you should play ping-pong in the middle of an Interstate Highway.
