Morez Johnson Jr. hasn’t had a ton of time to rest and reflect on Michigan basketball’s run to the national title, as he’s shifted his focus to preparing for the NBA Draft.
But he’s had enough time to commemorate the program’s first championship since 1989, getting a tattoo on his left forearm of the Block M with the year “2026” below it.
Will he return and try to repeat with the Wolverines? That remains to be seen, as Johnson hasn’t made a definitive stay-or-go decision yet and has until the NCAA’s May 27 withdrawal deadline to do so.
“I have to talk to my agents and … see what type of feedback they’ve been getting,” Johnson told reporters at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago this week.
“I’ve been focused on the combine, the task at hand, performing my best and showing everybody what I can do. Then I’ll talk to (my agents), see what they say, and they’ll give me their best advice. That’s what I hired my agents for, so I’m going to trust them.”
Johnson, 20, declared for the draft while maintaining his college eligibility after a strong sophomore campaign. A transfer from Illinois, he upped his production, improved his shooting numbers and expanded his game during his first season with the Wolverines.
As part of Michigan’s three-big starting lineup with Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara, Johnson ranked first on the team in rebounds (7.3), second in scoring (13.1 points) and third in blocked shots (1.1). He shot 65.8% on 2-pointers, 78.2% at the free-throw line and 34.3% from 3-point range after not attempting a single shot from beyond the arc his freshman year.
That all led to Johnson earning a coveted combine invite along with more than 70 others, including teammates Lendeborg and Mara, who are both projected lottery picks.
When asked if he has closed the door on returning to Michigan, Johnson reiterated he was focused on the pre-draft process and “having a good week here in Chicago.”
By all accounts, Johnson did just that and was among the prospects who helped themselves with a stellar showing. After measuring 6-foot-9 with a 7-3 wingspan, he recorded a 39-inch max vertical leap, posted one of the fastest lane agility times, and fared well in shooting drills.
In an interview on SiriusXM’s NBA radio this week, Johnson said one of the factors in his looming decision will be “making sure I can go first round.” Heading into the combine, Johnson was pegged as a mid-to-late first-rounder in mock drafts by Bleacher Report (No. 17), CBS Sports (No. 17), The Athletic (No. 17), Yahoo! Sports (No. 17), ESPN (No. 20), and Sports Illustrated (No. 29).
Johnson, however, said he hasn’t spoken with his agents about any intel they’ve gathered regarding his draft range.
“I see the stuff you all see on Twitter,” said Johnson, who’s represented by CAA Sports. “I’ll let them (agents) handle that and we’ll have a talk when it’s time to make a firm decision.
“To be honest, I asked my agents to stop telling me stuff a couple weeks ago and let me just focus on basketball. That’s pretty much what we’ve been doing.”
One person who isn’t going to try to influence Johnson’s next move is coach Dusty May. Last month, May said he and his staff don’t recruit guys back when they declare for the draft; they leave it up to the players to determine what’s best for them.
“Dusty has been very supportive,” Johnson said. “He’s not pressuring me to come back at all. He wants me to attack this thing with two feet in until otherwise.”
May, who was on hand at the combine, told national college basketball reporter Andy Katz that the Wolverines have “one spot” left on the roster for next season.
“We’re in a wait-and-see approach with Morez. We’re certainly anticipating him having a difficult decision because of how well he’s played in Chicago,” May said. “If he does stay in (the draft), we’ll be prepared to pivot. We like our team regardless, but obviously (Johnson) raises our ceiling like Yaxel did last year.”
With Lendeborg and Mara off to the NBA as well as Johnson’s possible departure, May dipped into the transfer portal and reloaded the frontcourt with center Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati), forward J.P. Estrella (Tennessee) and forward Jalen Reed (LSU).
Johnson said Michigan’s roster will be “dangerous again” if he’s added to the mix. In less than two weeks, he’ll have to make up his mind, and the Wolverines will get their answer.
“We’re trying to run it back, of course, if I’m there,” Johnson said. “Even without me, I think they’ve got the team right now to do it.”
jhawkins@detroitnews.com
@jamesbhawkins
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: As Morez Johnson Jr. mulls over NBA, Michigan in ‘wait-and-see’ mode
Reporting by James Hawkins, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
