Note #051: Morez Johnson Jr. (Big Ten-Bred)
Following a National Championship run with Michigan in 2025-26 Morez Johnson Jr. declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, going 9th overall to Dallas (where he will play for his Michigan, and new Mavericks, head coach Dusty May!)
Johnson Jr., a sophomore in 2025-26, played his freshman year (2024-25) at his home state's flagship university, Illinois. More on that later...
In 2025-26, his 6' 9" height and 7'3"+ wingspan was paired with the 7'3", UCLA transfer Aday Mara (also a 2026 NBA Draft declarant, who was picked 12th) to establish a formidable interior for the Wolverines.
We'll also include the 6' 9", UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg (a 2026 Draft entrant too, who was selected 11th!), who plays all over the court, as part of that UM Department of the Interior.
Anyway, Johnson Jr.'s impact is justified. First, the per game (across 40 GP, 25.1 MP/G):
- 13.1 PPG
- 7.3 RPG
- 1.2 APG
- 1.1 BPG
- 0.7 SPG
Since 1947-48, only two NCAA Division I sophomores besides Johnson Jr. averaged 13+ PPG, 7+ RPG, 1+ APG, 1+ BPG, 0.5+ SPG in 25.5 MP/G or less (min. 30 GP):
1. Donovan Clingan (2023-24) - 13.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.5 BPG, 0.5 SPG (35 GP, 22.5 MP/G)
2. Joakim Noah (2005-06) - 14.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 2.4 BPG, 1.4 SPG (39 GP, 24.9 MP/G)
FWIW, both Clingan (UConn) and Noah (Florida), like Johnson Jr., helped lead their schools to National Championships in their sophomore seasons.
For fun, the two freshmen since 1947-48 to meet the criteria above:
1. DeMarcus Cousins (2009-10) - 15.1 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.0 SPG (38 GP, 23.5 MP/G)
2. Vernon Carey Jr. (2019-20) - 17.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.6 BPG, 0.7 SPG (31 GP, 24.9 MP/G)
In 2025-26, only one player besides Johnson Jr. met the criteria - senior:
Jayden Brewer - 13.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.0 BPG, 0.8 SPG (31 GP, 25.5 MP/G)
If we remove MP/G and GP completely, four other sophomores in 2025-26 besides Johnson Jr. met the remaining per game qualifiers:
1. Torey Alston - 13.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.1 BPG, 0.5 SPG (32 GP, 29.3 MP/G)
2. Flory Bidunga - 13.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.6 BPG, 0.7 SPG (35 GP, 31.5 MP/G)
3. Mohammad Habhab - 14.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.4 BPG, 0.9 SPG (30 GP, 36.0 MP/G)
4. Hank Alvey - 15.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.1 SPG (35 GP, 30.9 MP/G)
Cling Kong has scaled three Notes thus far:
#009 (Najai Hines) / #011 (Oswin Erhunmwunse) / #016 (Eric Reibe)
Cousins came through in Note #037 on potential 2026 NBA Draft first round pick Chris Cenac Jr.
Alvey arrived in Note #014 on IPFW-to-Houston transfer Corey Hadnot II.