Tonight, the Michigan Wolverines will face off against the UConn Huskies in the national championship game. This means Morez Johnson Jr. has an opportunity to showcase his game and boost his NBA Draft stock on college basketball’s biggest stage.
Is Morez Johnson Jr. Expected to Get Picked in the 2026 NBA Draft?
Johnson is the No. 38-ranked prospect in PFSN’s NBA Mock Draft Simulator, which is very similar to where ESPN has him ranked (No. 41 overall) on their 2026 NBA Draft big board. Johnson projects as a second-round pick, but it’s possible that he could work his way into the first round with a strong pre-draft performance.
At 6-foot-9 with a wingspan that stretches past 7 feet and plenty of versatility, Johnson is built for the modern NBA. Also, at 250 pounds, he has the necessary bulk to handle professional physicality right away.
His offensive game relies on efficiency rather than volume. This season, he is averaging 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 0.7 steals, while shooting 62.1% from the field. He finishes through contact, establishes deep post position, and creates extra possessions on the offensive glass.
Johnson’s defensive versatility also stands out, as alters shots around the rim and moves his feet well enough to survive pick-and-roll switches. That mobility is non-negotiable for modern bigs. Teams target centers who can hedge on screens without getting exposed by quick guards on the perimeter.
However, his offensive limitations keep him out of the lottery conversation for now. He lacks a reliable three-point shot (making just 0.3 triples per game on 34.3% from deep), and he operates almost exclusively in the paint. The modern league demands floor-spacing bigs, and Johnson hasn’t shown the perimeter touch required to stretch defenses consistently.
MORE: Yaxel Lendeborg NBA Draft Projections: How High Will the Michigan Star Get Selected?
His playmaking out of the post also requires refinement. When defenses collapse, he occasionally struggles to find the open shooter. These areas of improvement are well documented, but his strengths as a rebounder and rim protector provide a clear path to early professional minutes.
He projects similarly to a physical, high-energy backup center who changes the tone of a game off the bench. He won’t be asked to carry an offense, but he’ll be expected to set crushing screens and secure defensive rebounds.
2026 NCAA Men’s National Championship Game Preview: UConn vs. Michigan
What to Expect From the UConn Huskies
What the Huskies are trying to do is nothing short of historic. Winning three national titles in four years will put them in rarified air and cement Dan Hurley as one of the greatest coaches in modern basketball history.
The most-recent obstacle in their path was a No. 3-seeded Illinois team that had been one of the most consistent squads in the entire tournament. But a balanced attack from the Huskies proved too much for the Fighting Illini.
UConn was once again led by Tarris Reed Jr., who finished the game with 17 points and 11 boards. Braylon Mullins chipped in 15, including another critical 3-pointer after his exploits helped UConn pull off a miraculous comeback win against Duke in the Elite Eight.
Strong inside play and a tough defensive effort helped guide them to the national championship game, as they held the Illini to 62 points on the night. Now, they will attempt to win their seventh national title in program history.
It would also mark the third championship win for Hurley, who would become the only active Division I men’s basketball head coach with more than two titles to his name.
What to Expect From the Michigan Wolverines
With two No. 1 seeds colliding, it would have been fair for fans to assume that they were tuning in for a classic in the Final Four clash between Michigan and Arizona. Instead, what they got was a one-sided beatdown from the Wolverines.
Taking an early lead, they dominated their way to a 91-73 victory over the Wildcats and it never felt particularly close. However, for the Wolverines, the night may not have been complete euphoria, as they walked away with a significant injury.
MORE: College Basketball 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker: Complete List of Players Who Are Available
Yaxel Lendeborg, who’s already earned an All-American spot and has made a case for himself to be the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, came away with a sprained ankle and injured knee after landing on a defender’s foot.
While he was still able to add 11 points in 14 minutes and he’s expected to play tonight, it remains to be seen if he’s hobbled. Fortunately for Michigan, the Wolverines have an extremely balanced offensive attack and became the first team in NCAA Tournament history to eclipse 90 points five times.
A double-digit lead less than six minutes into the game sold the story of the game, as Arizona couldn’t get anything going on offense. Eventually, the Wolverines were able to slam the door shut.
Now, they walk into the national championship game trying to prevent history as they face another battle-tested group in UConn.
