Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

May 16, 2023

Morez Johnson, Jr 6’9” PF 2024 – Illini Commit

Morez Johnson, Jr in Dallas EYBL tourney, courtesy Mike Cagley, IlliniGuys

Morez is a power forward finishing up his junior year of high school and a long time Illini 2024 commit. He is one of the most anticipated Illini recruits since Ayo committed and essentially "started" the Illini basketball resurgence. Morez truly embodies the "Everyday Guy" phrase that has been the centerpiece of the Brad Underwood Illini era.

What separates Morez from most players on the EYBL circuit is the intensity of his play. Despite his high ranking, he regularly hits the floor for loose balls, hustles to be the first man down the court to anchor the defense, takes charges, and many times requires more than one person to block him out.

An example of his hustle was a play he made against Bradley Beal Elite. After he was knocked to the ground while attempting a shot (no foul called) and while on his knees, Morez managed to grab a rebound of his missed shot and then had the presence of mind to make a bounce pass to an open teammate for a layup. That’s a play you don’t see anyone else make.

Morez possesses one trait that will be valuable for the Illini when he arrives in 2024. On the court, he’s the "quarterback" of his Meanstreets EYBL basketball team. He calls out picks and communicates the defense. He helps guide players to get into the correct position on the court. He pulls people through picks. This behavior doesn’t stop on the defensive end of the court. On offense, he helps direct players to where they need to be to start an offensive set as well.

The Illini will be getting a leader, and Morez embraces that role on both ends of the floor. This will be valued by the coaching staff. When you couple his leadership with his hustle, he has a lot of intangibles that are unusual for a basketball player in general and certainly for a big specifically. Morez brings so much more to the table than basketball skills alone.

On the court, Morez is honing his ability to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket. He’s surprisingly quick for a man his size. At times, he can so fast that he can get a bit out of control. It's important to note, when he tightens his handles slightly and learns how to vary his speed, he’ll be much more difficult to guard. Right now, he plays at one speed – fast – and that can lead to some exciting basketball at the rim.

His mid-range game is solid. As he polishes this skill and extends his shooting range, one can see him as an even more formidable offensive assignment to defend. It’s hard to underscore that his 100% hustle on the court is so additive to what he does that he’s constantly putting pressure on the other team due to his intense level of play. If you don’t put a body (or two) on him on either end of the court, he will get the next rebound.

Currently, the 2024 Illini commit has averaged 12.5 points per game, 7.8 per game, 0.8 assists per game in 23.3 minutes per game in EYBL games.