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Oh, the time together was short, and the breakup was heartbreaking, but my 30th favorite Illinois men's basketball player during my 30 years of fandom is Morez Johnson Jr.
Morez will always be a what-if to me, though I will admit that the addition of David Mirkovic somehow worked out for the better. Rest assured that Mirkovic will be on this list.
I am a sucker for junkyard-dog players who do the dirty work, and I could tell that Johnson was going to be that and more for the Illini right away during his lone season in Champaign. A man-child as a freshman during the 2024-25 season, Johnson was a screening and rim-running big who was also highly efficient with minimial post touches around the basket. I love me those players who put up points without a lot of shots, and Johnson was clearly going to be one of those guys in the Orange and Blue, a menace on the boards, an immovable body down low, and matchup nightmare for opponents.
Near the end of his freshman season, Johnson was starting alongside Tomislav Ivisic, forming an intriguing frontline. Unfortunately, Morez broke his wrist following a dunk early during a home game against Michigan State and would return off the bench for the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. Sitting in street clothes, wearing a Kasparas Jakucionis t-shirt as Illinois prepared to play Michigan late in the season in Ann Arbor, Morez seemed like he would be at Illinois for at least another season. How could Illinois fans know what would come next?
Shockingly, Morez would transfer to Michigan of all places following his freshman season with the Illini. While the move paid off for both teams, with Mirkovic help leading Illinois to the Final Four and Johnson being a big-time contributor on the national champion Wolverines, it was hard to see the St. Rita and Thornton Township product leave after committing to the Illini as a sophomore in high school.
While some many consider it blasphemous to put Johnson on this list, I am going to take the high road, only if Morez leaves for the NBA and does not return next season. Just kidding, kind of. Still, Morez was a very fun player to watch as a freshman, someone whom I could tell from early on was going to be an all-time Illini favorite of mine, probably top ten if he had stayed longer.
Johnson's potential jumped off the screen from his first game with Illinois, and while he had a sophomore jump at Michigan, I don't care what anyone says, he would have done the same thing with the Illini this season.
Now Morez, please stay in the NBA Draft. I can't watch year two of you in the Maize and Blue.
Morez will always be a what-if to me, though I will admit that the addition of David Mirkovic somehow worked out for the better. Rest assured that Mirkovic will be on this list.
I am a sucker for junkyard-dog players who do the dirty work, and I could tell that Johnson was going to be that and more for the Illini right away during his lone season in Champaign. A man-child as a freshman during the 2024-25 season, Johnson was a screening and rim-running big who was also highly efficient with minimial post touches around the basket. I love me those players who put up points without a lot of shots, and Johnson was clearly going to be one of those guys in the Orange and Blue, a menace on the boards, an immovable body down low, and matchup nightmare for opponents.
Near the end of his freshman season, Johnson was starting alongside Tomislav Ivisic, forming an intriguing frontline. Unfortunately, Morez broke his wrist following a dunk early during a home game against Michigan State and would return off the bench for the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. Sitting in street clothes, wearing a Kasparas Jakucionis t-shirt as Illinois prepared to play Michigan late in the season in Ann Arbor, Morez seemed like he would be at Illinois for at least another season. How could Illinois fans know what would come next?
Shockingly, Morez would transfer to Michigan of all places following his freshman season with the Illini. While the move paid off for both teams, with Mirkovic help leading Illinois to the Final Four and Johnson being a big-time contributor on the national champion Wolverines, it was hard to see the St. Rita and Thornton Township product leave after committing to the Illini as a sophomore in high school.
While some many consider it blasphemous to put Johnson on this list, I am going to take the high road, only if Morez leaves for the NBA and does not return next season. Just kidding, kind of. Still, Morez was a very fun player to watch as a freshman, someone whom I could tell from early on was going to be an all-time Illini favorite of mine, probably top ten if he had stayed longer.
Johnson's potential jumped off the screen from his first game with Illinois, and while he had a sophomore jump at Michigan, I don't care what anyone says, he would have done the same thing with the Illini this season.
Now Morez, please stay in the NBA Draft. I can't watch year two of you in the Maize and Blue.
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