When Morez Johnson Jr. entered the transfer portal in April, the college hoops world was racing to land him. The 6’9″ forward from Riverdale, Illinois, was coming off his freshman campaign that saw him average 7.0 points and 6.7 rebounds.
So, not so surprisingly, within hours, bluebloods like Arizona, Kansas State, and Arkansas tried to land him. But Johnson kept it Big Ten and committed to Dusty May’s squad. Soon after, he went on to play for the U19 FIBA USA team.
As FIBA U19 Ends, Morez Johnson Identifies His Sweet Spot Under Dusty May
As the FIBA U19 World Cup nears its end, Johnson will soon be back with his Wolverines squad. And the fandom is wondering what May’s frontcourt might look like this season. Johnson, in fact, has a clear idea of his role.
In a recent interview with On3, Johnson went on to talk about what he brings to the May team.
“I expect to be able to switch one through four,” Johnson said. “Being versatile in the games, being able to pick and pop, pick and roll, be a lob threat while getting some stops and still being dominant on the glass.”
International and collegiate experience sets @morezjohnsonJr apart & it’s showing at the #FIBAU19 World Cup 🌍
🇺🇸 #USABMU19 pic.twitter.com/W0cnKlJySE
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) July 3, 2025
“Dominant” might just be the perfect term. At FIBA, Johnson’s been a walking problem. He has averaged 8.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in under 18 minutes a night. His semifinals alone saw him make six points, four boards, and two blocks in just 14 minutes. And that is precisely the production that Michigan is banking on.
But it is not all about numbers. Johnson was quick to buy into May’s Ann Arbor pitch.
“He’s smarter than ever,” Johnson said of his new head coach. “The way he breaks down games. He has broken the game down to me a lot and helped me to understand things… We’ve built a great relationship, even in the short time I’ve been there.”
Morez Johnson was a beast for Team USA today with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2 steals. He played with an insane amount of physicality and energy that was unmatched. Showcased a ton of defensive versatility as well. He still plays a little sped up, especially when… pic.twitter.com/jm0Bsjnu2v
— Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) June 28, 2025
That’s a big plus considering Johnson is joining one of the best rosters to put his gameplay to use. May did not just land Johnson this season. He also landed Elliot Cadeau from UNC, Aday Mara from UCLA, and Yaxel Lendeborg from UAB. The roster will also have returning names like Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle, and Will Tschetter.
Johnson will be looking to make some noise this season. His freshman year at Illinois had ups and downs. While his averages are pretty decent, he had an explosive moment like the 20 points and 11 boards game against Penn State. Despite dealing with an injury that sidelined him, his rebounding rate was excellent throughout the games he played.
Approximately 98% of his offense came at the rim. The lack of polish was made up for in raw energy. That’s what May is banking on and what could make Michigan a defensive nightmare.