Illinois Recruit Morez Johnson Wins Illinois Mr. Basketball

Shandel Richardson | Apr 12, 2024

Richwoods' Marlon Herron goes to the basket against Harvey Thornton's Morez Johnson Jr. - Matt Dayhoff/USA Today / MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR / USA TODAY

Illnois coach Brad Underwood is continuing he can recruit the best players in the state.

On Friday, incoming recruit Morez Johnson was named the state's Mr. Basketball. Johnson helped lead Harvey Thornton advance to the Class 8A supersectional, where they lost to Peoria Richwoods. He averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three steals for the 25-9 Wildcats.

Johnson is the third Mr. Basketball signed by Underwood. He also landed Adam Miller (2020) and Mark Smith (2017).

"I have so much respect for [Johnson]," Underwood said on National Signing Day. "He stayed in state. He had so many opportunities to go to the highfalutin prep schools and do that, and he stayed right here. But he's down here all the time, and he's around and he's around our guys. It's just tremendous comfort for him, as it is us. That relationship continues to grow and develop. It's like second nature seeing him at a game now. That's what's pretty cool because we don't see that that often."

A 6-foot-9 power forward, Johnson is expected to provide depth in the frontcourt next season. The Fighting Illini are losing mainstay Coleman Hawkins, a mainstay in the rotations the past few years. His presence could help the Illini improve last season's performance. They had their best seasons under Underwood, advancing to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual champion UConn.

The Illini also hope to find a replacement for leading scorer Terrence Shannon, who is an expected lottery pick in the June NBA Draft.