Less than a month after bringing a national championship back to Ann Arbor, Morez Johnson Jr. has declared for the NBA Draft.
Johnson is maintaining his college eligibility throughout the process, and will have to withdraw his name from the draft by May 27 if he wants to return to college for his junior campaign.
After transferring from Illinois to the Michigan men’s basketball team last offseason, Johnson was an integral piece to the squad that cut the nets down April 6. Johnson averaged the second-most points on the team with 13.1 per game and recorded a team-leading 7.3 rebounds per contest. Johnson was also named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team and awarded Third Team All-Big Ten honors.
Coined by his head coach as an enforcer and junkyard dog, Johnson built up a reputation for his unwillingness to give up an inch on the defensive side of the ball, contributing heavily to the Wolverines’ No. 1 defensive rating, per Kenpom. But his scrappiness was just as palpable on the offensive side of the court, where Johnson often punished defenders close to the block and even developed a serviceable 3-point shot as the season unfolded.
If Johnson is to remain in Ann Arbor, it has been reported that his compensation would be very close to what it would be if he chooses to enter the draft, where he is projected to be selected with a late first-round pick. The difference is that Johnson would either get one more season at Michigan to further develop before heading to the league, or leverage the ample professional traits he’s already showcased with a professional contract.
Johnson has been vocal about his love for the Wolverines since the season ended, commenting on teammates’ posts for them to stay another year, reposting Jalen Reed’s recent commitment to Michigan, and posting photos from the 2026 season on his X account.
Whether or not these recent social media interactions are clues indicating Johnson’s return to the Wolverines remains unclear. Folks in Ann Arbor are begging for a key contributor to their national championship team to return, but NBA scouts are calling his name as well.
Johnson is in high demand after what he accomplished this past season, and it’s up to him how he wants to cash in.
