Prayers flood in for Florida star Keyontae Johnson following collapse

Prayers flood in for Florida star Keyontae Johnson following collapse mid-game

By Cole Claybourn Dec 12, 2020

Florida forward Keyontae Johnson in a December 2019 game. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

People in and around the sports world are praying for Florida basketball star Keyontae Johnson, who suddenly collapsed following a timeout early in Saturday’s game against Florida State.

Johnson, the Southeastern Conference’s Preseason Player of the Year, had just dunked in transition moments before the timeout, then fell to the floor near mid-court. Several Florida players were in tears and the game was delayed for several minutes while Johnson was tended to.

He was rushed to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and was listed as being in critical but stable condition. The reason for Johnson’s collapse is not yet known.

Florida coach Mike White was one of many people to publicly plea for prayers over Johnson on social media.

Please keep praying for @Keyontae and his family. We all love him.

— Mike White (@CoachWhiteUGA) December 12, 2020

Per the Florida men’s basketball Twitter page, White will stay with Johnson overnight in the hospital.

Keyontae Johnson remains in critical but stable condition and will stay at Tallahassee Memorial overnight.

Head coach Mike White will also remain with Keyontae in Tallahassee at the hospital overnight.

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) December 12, 2020

Shortly after the incident and throughout Saturday, many others offered up prayers for Johnson:

Our thoughts and prayers with Keyontae Johnson and @GatorsMBK 🙏

— Florida State Men’s Basketball (@FSUHoops) December 12, 2020

Scary scene in Tallahassee: Florida's Keyontae Johnson has passed out on the court and was just taken the locker room.

Everyone say a prayer.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 12, 2020

🙏 for Keyontae pic.twitter.com/2q4IcN5rDw

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) December 12, 2020

Everyone please pray for Florida’s Keyontae Johnson, one of the best young men and families I’ve ever recruited. Please pray. @Keyontae pic.twitter.com/IJG7dIEIJZ

— Chris Beard (@CoachBeard) December 12, 2020

As we prepare for tip in under an hour here in Chapel Hill, we're sending positive thoughts and prayers to @GatorsMBK and Keyontae Johnson 🙏

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) December 12, 2020

sending up prayers for Keyontae 🙏 https://t.co/D6qgvtCyzD

— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) December 12, 2020

Prayers up for Keyontae Johnson. I can’t imagine what Keyontae, his parents, his family, teammates, & Gator nation is going through. Just watching the replay brought tears to my eyes. So scary. God bless to you all! 🙏🏾

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) December 12, 2020

BC coach Jim Christian opens press conference sending wishes to Florida basketball player Keyontae Johnson, collapsed on court, in critical but stable condition. Said he was watching and it was scary to see.

— Ken Powtak (@KPowtak) December 12, 2020

Thoughts up for our brother 🙏 https://t.co/rAg7WF7bym

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 12, 2020

Horrible hearing the news that Florida forward Keyontae Johnson collapsed 4 minutes into the game!

Prayers for him as he was rushed to the hospital.. very very scary. I Hopefully everything is ok!🙏🏾🙏🏾🏀🏀 #ncaa

— Renee Washington (@ReneePwash) December 12, 2020

ESPNU says Keyontae Johnson is in critical, but stable, condition. Send your prayers and positive energy

— Dana O'Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) December 12, 2020

Florida player, Keyonte Johnson, collapsed on the court coming out of a timeout in the game with Florida State

The Florida players are in tears. Everyone please say a prayer for him

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 12, 2020

Praying for @GatorsMBK Keyontae Johnson right now. Collapsed during game just a few minutes ago. Please pause whatever you are doing and lift him up in prayer

— Jimmy Dykes (@CoachJimmyDykes) December 12, 2020

Please join us in praying for Keyontae Johnson.

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Basketball

Buddy Hield providing spark for Warriors in playoffs: ‘Without Him this would not be possible’

By Joshua Doering May 6, 2025

Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

Between Steph Curry, Draymond Green and midseason acquisition Jimmy Butler, the Golden State Warriors have as much playoff experience as any team in the NBA. Offseason addition Buddy Hield, however, had four career postseason appearances when he joined the Warriors.

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But with their season on the line in a win-or-go-home Game 7 Sunday night, it was Hield who propelled No. 7-seed Golden State past the Houston Rockets and into the second round. The nine-year veteran will not forget his performance inside the Toyota Center anytime soon.

Having scored four total points in Games 5 and 6 (both losses), Hield tied a Game 7 record by knocking down nine of his 11 3-point attempts. He went 12-of-15 from the field for a game-high 33 points in the Warriors’ 103-89 victory.

Two players have EVER hit 9+ threes on at least 80% from deep in a Playoff game:

Buddy Hield (9-11 3PM last night)
Jason Terry (9-10 3PM on May 8, 2011) pic.twitter.com/P6rJvFOLuU

— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2025

“It’s a childhood dream,” he said in the postgame press conference. “We all talk about Game 7s. We all want to play in Game 7s, but actually playing in a Game 7 and preparing for it is one of the hardest things ever.”

Hield scored 22 of his points before halftime, including a buzzer-beater from halfcourt to end the first quarter.

SIX splashes for Buddy in the first half.

Keep 'em coming💪 pic.twitter.com/yZc7sAjFnc

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 5, 2025

Speaking with the media after the game, Hield openly discussed the nerves and pressure he felt. He told TNT’s “Inside the NBA” crew that his strong faith in God helped steady him.

“All glory to God, man,” he said. “Without Him this would not be possible. I was really locked in, just keeping my mind right and just talking to God and knowing I had to come through and help my team.”

Hield gave thanks to God again in the postgame press conference.

“Just trying to find my joy,” he said. “I’ve never been in this situation before. Just trying to seize the moment … Tonight was fun. All glory to God.”

Drafted sixth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2016, Golden State is the fifth different organization Hield — who was born in the Bahamas and won the 3-point contest at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game — has played for. He appeared in all 82 games this season, averaging 11.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

In 2021, he became the fastest player in NBA history to make 1,000 3-pointers, breaking the record held by his now-teammate Curry.

Going back to his college days at the University of Oklahoma, Hield has also been outspoken about his faith in the Lord. He regularly thanks God for “Life, Health and Strength” on X and credits his mom, Jackie Swann, for laying the foundation for his relationship with the Lord.

“Psalm 23 is the one I always read, the main one before my games,” he said in a 2016 Sports Spectrum article. “My mom always told me to read that when I was nervous or before a big game. I also like Psalm 91, 27, 35, and 37. I read them before every game. I’m trying to get my mind right.”

These days, he regularly attends the chapel service held before every NBA game. Hield’s former teammate in Indiana and Sacramento, Tyrese Haliburton, said last month that he and Hield would often attend chapel together. Hield also has Proverbs 3:5-6 as his X background and Philippians 4:13 listed in his Instagram bio.

If the Warriors are going to make a run at another NBA title, they’ll need Hield to continue making shots and playing at a high level. They have not reached the conference finals since winning the championship in 2021-22.

The No. 6-seed Minnesota Timberwolves await them in the second round. Game 1 from the Target Center in Minneapolis is at 9:30 p.m. ET Tuesday. The winner of the series will face either the Denver Nuggets or Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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Basketball

Tyrese Haliburton leads Pacers in NBA playoffs, finds ‘peace’ in Bible, pregame chapel

By Kevin Mercer Apr 21, 2025

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives past a Bucks defender, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The Indiana Pacers have improved on their regular-season record each of the three full seasons star guard Tyrese Haliburton has been with the franchise. A year ago they made the postseason for the first time in four years, won a playoff series for the first time since 2014, and advanced all the way to the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals.

This spring, with a 50-32 regular-season record and the No. 4 seed in the East, Haliburton and the Pacers are positioned for another deep playoff run.

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Haliburton had a relatively quiet game in Indiana’s 117-98 Game 1 victory Saturday against its first-round opponent, the Milwaukee Bucks, yet still nearly compiled a triple-double; he scored 10 points, dished out 12 assists and snagged seven rebounds.

Tyrese Haliburton 🏎️💨

"That's IndyCar speed." pic.twitter.com/YQUBVpEVnU

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 19, 2025

Drafted No. 12 overall by the Sacramento Kings out of Iowa State in 2020, Haliburton was traded to the Pacers mid-way through the 2021-22 season. In Indiana, he’s become one of the best passers in the NBA and a two-time All-Star (2023, 2024). He averaged 9.2 assists per game this regular season (the third-most in the league) in addition to his 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

Haliburton was a member of Team USA’s gold medal-winning basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and as his fame has grown, he’s continued to speak about the importance of faith in his life. At a press conference earlier this month, he was asked about the chapel services NBA teams hold before games.

“Chapel is a big part of my game-day routine,” Haliburton said. “It started my rookie year with Harrison Barnes. As my vet, he always made sure I was going to chapel. … That 15-20 minutes I get every day to step aside and talk about what really matters — which is my Lord and Savior — I think it’s very important for me. I think we’ve built a little bit of a community within our locker room too.”

He continued later, “It’s a super cool thing that we do here in the NBA and I always appreciate it. So (chapel has) been a big part of my success and, honestly, my sanity throughout this year. It’s been an up-and-down year, but I know that coming back to the [Bible], coming back to my peace really there always makes me feel at peace and knowing the bigger picture.”

Haliburton writes “To Him be the glory forever” in his X bio, and this summer in an interview with GQ said his Bible was the first of 10 items he can’t live without.

“Over the last two years, my religion has become very important in my life,” he said in the video. “Just understanding that I’m made in the image of God, in a world where you have a bad game and they’re killing you on social media, or confidence goes up and down, I can always come right here. [The Bible] is my peace.”

Haliburton admitted he’s never truly read the Bible until recent years, knowing only the isolated verses athletes commonly reference. However, as the 25-year-old Oshkosh, Wisconsin, native has established himself in the NBA, God has been at work in his heart to draw him closer to Himself.

“Growing up we didn’t go to church a lot, but we understood God’s place in our lives,” Haliburton told NBA.com last year. “Now that I’m an adult I guess — I own a house now and live on my own — I go to church on Sunday every chance I can. I go to chapel before games.”

God has even used Haliburton’s life as a witness to his own parents, John and Brenda.

“Tyrese is humble and very blessed,” John told Andscape in December 2023. “We give God the praise and the glory. Tyrese is nothing without the mercy of God. He knows how to handle it. He knows where he comes from.”

Tip-off for Game 2 between the Bucks and Haliburton’s Pacers is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET in Indianapolis, as Indiana will try to secure a commanding two-game lead in the best-of-seven series. And one thing is for certain: 60 minutes before tip, Haliburton will be in chapel, learning about and worshiping God.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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Basketball

Sarah Ashlee Barker drafted 9th overall by L.A. Sparks, finds ‘strength’ and ‘peace’ in the Lord

By Joshua Doering Apr 15, 2025

L.A. Sparks draft pick Sarah Ashlee Barker poses for a picture with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Sarah Ashlee Barker did everything she could to leave a lasting impression on WNBA talent evaluators in her final college game. The Alabama guard scored 45 points on just 25 shots and went 4-of-6 from 3-point range in a double-overtime loss to Maryland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

She scored the Crimson Tide’s final seven points in regulation — including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 37 seconds left — to get the game to overtime. With no time remaining on the clock in the first overtime, Barker calmly nailed three free throws to keep Alabama alive. She accounted for her team’s last four points in the second overtime period too.

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The L.A. Sparks were impressed enough to take Barker with the ninth overall pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Los Angeles Sparks (@la_sparks)

“There’s so many great players in the W,” Barker said in her press conference. “I’m so excited for the competition, for the athleticism, and just a new chapter in my life. I’ve been in college for five years, and so I’m just ready to start that next chapter.”

Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Barker spent her first two seasons at Georgia before returning home to play for the Crimson Tide — the school her father, Jay Barker, quarterbacked to a national championship in 1992. She was a first-team All-SEC selection her final two years at Alabama, posting career highs in points (18.2), assists (3.9) and field goal percentage (51.4%) as a fifth-year senior.

Throughout her time speaking with the media Monday night, Barker repeatedly mentioned her gratefulness. That largely stems from a time at 13 years old when she had to undergo two knee surgeries, which put her future in the game in doubt.

“When I was in eighth grade I had a knee injury that could have taken me away from the game of basketball,” she said. “So for me at 13 years old, I couldn’t run for nine months and I was out for a whole year or over a year. So for me to even be able to step on the floor, it means the world to me. I’m just so grateful that I just have the opportunity to continue playing.”

Guiding Barker along her journey to the WNBA has also been a strong faith in God. She often references her faith on social media and publicly shares about the important role it plays in her life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sarah Ashlee Barker (@sarahashlee7)

In another press conference, after her 45-point performance in the NCAA Tournament, she was asked how she prepared to take those free throws with Alabama’s season on the line. Barker said she found peace knowing it was all in God’s hands.

“The Lord is who I look to for my strength, my peace,” she said. “He upholds me. … That’s exactly what I went to, was who my strength is. And that’s my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

“The Lord is who I look to for my strength and peace.”@AlabamaWBB’s Sarah Ashlee Barker @SarahAshlee10 pointing to Christ. She hit 3 clutch free throws against LSU to send her team to a second overtime and ended up with 45 points in a tough loss. pic.twitter.com/KqGyXs6eL7

— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) March 25, 2025

Even though Barker could have declared for the draft last year, she always planned on using all of her college eligibility.

“I think college athletics is huge, and it’s a lot of fun,” she told The Crimson White in 2023. “And so, I want to be able to stay in college as long as I can. There’s really no thought process other than ‘I have another year, I’m going to take it,’ and whatever happens, happens. God has a plan, and I always trust His plan. I really put no thought into it because I trust in Him.”

The bucket from Bama 🔥

Sarah Ashlee Barker led Alabama in scoring for the second straight season and was a 2x All-SEC First Team selection. She dropped a program-record 45 PTS against Maryland in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. This season, she averaged 18.2 PTS, 6.3 REB, and 3.9… pic.twitter.com/D3kdhiecYu

— WNBA (@WNBA) April 11, 2025

After her college career came to an end, Barker posted a letter on Instagram reflecting on her journey and thanking everyone who has supported her along the way. She then officially declared for the WNBA Draft and once again pointed to her trust in God’s plan.

“I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for me!!” Barker wrote. “Roll tide forever.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sarah Ashlee Barker (@sarahashlee7)

She ended the post with the same Bible verse she writes on her wrist before games, Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

As she prepares to enter the next chapter of her story, Barker knows that God is ultimately in control and will be guiding her every step of the way.

“I just know that whatever God has for my life, that’s how my story is going to be written and I’m not writing it. God is,” Barker told the Shelby County Reporter last month. “The only thing that I can control is how hard I work and how much effort I put into the game, but I can’t control the wins and the losses. Because it’s not my story to write, it’s His, and it’s already been written.”

Barker and the Sparks will play a preseason game May 6 against the WNBA’s expansion franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, the team L.A. will also face for its regular-season opener May 16.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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Basketball Coaches

Monty Williams honored with Keys to Life Award, desires for people ‘to see Christ in me’

By Kevin Mercer Apr 9, 2025

(L-R) Former ESPN analyst Sage Steele, Monty Williams and Athletes in Action President Mark Householder at the 2025 Keys To Life Breakfast, April 5, 2025. (Photo courtesy Guardian PR)

Amid all of the festivities at the 2025 Final Four in San Antonio last weekend, faith and basketball came together on Saturday morning with the presentation of the 28th annual Coach Wooden Keys to Life Award. It is “presented annually to a player or coach who best exemplifies character, leadership, and integrity in the home, on the court, and throughout the community,” according to the award’s website.

This year’s recipient was former NBA player, current TMI Episcopal basketball coach, and 2022 NBA Coach of the Year Monty Williams, who was recognized for his character, leadership and Christian faith.

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✨ A Morning to Remember in San Antonio! ✨
The Keys to Life Breakfast

On Saturday morning in San Antonio, leaders from the world of sports and beyond gathered for the Keys to Life Breakfast, a special Final Four weekend tradition focused on character, leadership, and integrity. pic.twitter.com/49LY6OZQ7j

— Athletes In Action (@AIAusa) April 8, 2025

The award is presented each year at a Keys to Life breakfast hosted by the sports ministry Athletes in Action, and honors legendary UCLA coach John Wooden.

Jared Miller, the director of basketball at AIA, said in a press release that “Athletes in Action is honored to name Monty Williams as the recipient of the 2025 Coach John Wooden ‘Keys to Life’ Award. Monty exemplifies the character and leadership that was so important to Coach Wooden, and he continues to lead by example, making a difference in the lives of athletes off the court, as well as on.”

Williams is one of the most respected voices in basketball circles. A star at Notre Dame from 1989-1994, Williams was drafted No. 24 overall by the New York Knicks in 1994. His NBA playing career came to a close with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2003, and he jumped into the coaching world. His first opportunity as a head coach came with the then-New Orleans Hornets in 2010. Yet he is perhaps best known for his four-year stint with the Phoenix Suns from 2019-2023, which included an appearance in the 2021 NBA Finals and being named the 2022 NBA Coach of the Year.

Since last October, Williams has served as head coach at college preparatory school TMI Episcopal in San Antonio, where he is able to coach his son, Elijah. Next year, his other son, Micah, plans to join the team.

Williams has been vocal about his faith in Christ during his time in the public eye. He was featured in the Winter 2021 edition of Sports Spectrum Magazine, and he’s been a guest on the Sports Spectrum Podcast multiple times. His most recent appearance came last November, shortly after he accepted his new position at TMI Episcopal. He discussed his new job, finding contentment in Christ, and trusting in God’s timing in the midst of grief.

“My coaching model is servant leadership,” Williams said on the podcast. “I tell the players all the time, ‘I’m here to serve you and love you. … It’s my job to call you up to your potential, and I hope to do that with a level of service, love, humanity and dignity that allows for you to see Christ in me.'”

“If not for the Holy Spirit, man, we’re just a bunch of skin and bones,” Williams added. “… I can do nothing without the Holy Spirit. Like absolutely nothing.”

He said that, at the age of 10, Christ brought him to Himself through an invitation to church from a football coach. Despite a rough upbringing in Prince George’s County, Maryland, the temptations of NBA fame and money, and the tragic loss of his wife in a car accident in 2016, nothing could separate him from God’s love.

As Williams has been renewed by God’s sustaining grace throughout the years, he’s become a spiritual mentor to numerous NBA players. He often prays with his teams and shares the Gospel with others, offering to them the only true hope in this world, the hope found in Christ.

“The Bible says [God] chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; I am that foolish thing,” he said on the podcast. “I shouldn’t be here. On my own merit, I should be in jail or doing something else that’s really unproductive. And by His grace and mercy — it hasn’t been easy, there has been some really, really hard stuff in my life — but He’s been so gracious to bring me and my family through it all. Only God could do that.”

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<