Morez Johnson Jr.

Class:
Sophomore
Position:
F
Height:
6-9
Weight:
250
Hometown:
Riverdale, Ill.
High School:
Thornton Township

Pronunciations
First Name: "more-ezz"

Who is Morez Johnson Jr.?
• Impact player on and off the court, strong leader
• Hard worker, with constant desire to improve
• An aggressive, athletic big man
• Presence on both backboards, not afraid of contact
• High-percentage shooting around the rim
• Involved in community activities, beautification programs, and mentoring
• International experience with the US National Team

Season: 2025-26 (Michigan)
• Portal transfer from Illinois
• Played and started in three games
• Averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game
   • Has three double-figure scoring games, with one of 20-plus
   • Scored a career-high 24 points against Oakland (Nov. 3)
• Shooting 19-for-30 (63.3 percent) from the field
   • Has two games of five-plus field goals, with one of 10-plus
   • Made a career-best 10 field goals on 11 attempts (90.9 percent) against Oakland
• Averaging 7.7 rebounds per game
   • Has two games of five-plus rebounds, with one of 10-plus
   • Recorded a season-high 12 rebounds vs. Wake Forest (Nov. 11)
• Has one double-double (point-rebound)
   • 10 points, 12 rebounds; at TCU (Nov. 14)
• Has four assists, three steals, and three blocks
• Averaging 23.8 minutes per game
   • Played a season-high 27 minutes vs. Wake Forest

Season: 2024-25 (Illinois)
• Played in 30 games, with eight starts
   • Made collegiate debut against Eastern Illinois (Nov. 4)
       • Finished with three points, eight rebounds, six blocks in 15 minutes
   • Made first collegiate start at Michigan State (Jan. 19)
       • Finished with 11 points and six rebounds in 17 minutes
• Averaged 7.0 points per game
   • Recorded first 200-plus point season (209)
   • Posted eight games of double-figure scoring
   • Scored a season-high 20 points vs. Penn State (Jan. 8)
• Averaged 6.7 rebounds per game
   • Posted 22 games of 5-plus rebounds, with five of 10-plus
   • Grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds vs. Ohio State (Feb. 2)
• Posted three double doubles (point-rebound)
   • 10 points, 13 rebounds: vs. Maryland Eastern Shore (Nov. 23)
   • 20 points, 11 rebounds: vs. Penn State
   • 14 points, 15 rebounds: vs. Ohio State
• Shot 64.2 percent from the field (77-for-120)
   • Made a season-best nine field goals against Penn State: 9-for-11 (81.8 percent)
• Averaged 1.1 blocks per game
   • Posted five games of three-plus blocks, with one of five-plus
   • Had a career-high six blocks against Eastern Illinois (Nov. 4)
• Has 12 steals and eight assists
• Averaged 17.6 minutes per game
   • Posted 12 games of 20-plus minutes, and two of 30-plus
   • Played a career-high 34 minutes against Northwestern (Jan. 26)

Career: Prep
• Consensus National Top 40 recruit (four-star)
   • Rankings: Rivals (27), ESPN (29), 247Sports (30) and On3 (37)
   • Ranked as No. 1 overall player in Illinois
• Illinois Mr. Basketball (2024)
• Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year (2024)
• IBCA All-State: Class 3A first team (2024), Class 4A first team (2023), third team (2022)
• IBCA All-State: Class 4A first team (2023), third team (2022)
• Associated Press All-State: Class 4A second team (2022)
• Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year (2024)
• Chicago Sun-Times All-Area (2022, '23, '24)
• All-Chicago Catholic League: first team (2023), second team (2022), honorable mention (2021)
• Champaign News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year (2024)
• Transferred to Thornton Township High School for senior year
   • Played under coach Tai Streets, who was a former Michigan football (1995-98), basketball (1997) player
   • Also played under Streets during AAU with MeanStreets
• As a senior (2023-24), led Thornton Township to 29-5 record, the Class 3A Super Sectional, Sectional championship and Southland conference title, averaging 20.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals with 27 double-doubles
• Attended St. Rita High School for his first three prep seasons
• As a junior (2022-23), led St. Rita to 23-11 record, the Class 4A Regional title, Class 4A Sectional semifinal and Catholic League Blue Division title, averaging 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks
• As a sophomore (2021-22), led St. Rita to 23-12 record, the Class 4A Regional title, the Class 4A Sectional final and runner-up finish in the Catholic League Blue Division
• Named to the 2023 Nike EYBL Peach Jam first-team, Pool play MVP
   • Averaged 17.0 points and a tournament-best 13.2 rebounds

Career: USA Basketball
• 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup (Argentina): helped United State to the gold medal
   • Averaged 8.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 13.6 minutes per game
   • Shot 62.1 percent from the field (18-for-29)
   • AmeriCup's leading rebounder (9.0 rpg), including 2.7 offensive boards per game
   • Posted two double doubles
       • 15 points, 15 rebounds: vs. Belize (June 4)
       • 11 points, 17 rebounds: vs. Puerto Rico (June 7)
• 2024 USA Men's Nike Hoop Summit: helped United State defeat World Select (98-75)
   • Finished with eight points, four rebounds (three offensive) and a block in 12 minutes

Notes
• Son of Natasha Jones and Morez Johnson Sr.