CHAMPAIGN — Morez Johnson Jr. intends to arrive in Champaign to start his Illinois basketball career as soon as he graduates from Thornton.
Until then? The future Illini big man still has one more all-star event on his calendar. Johnson is set to play in the 2024 Iverson Classic in Hampton, Va., on May 4.
Johnson has made the rounds this month.
The 6-foot-9, consensus four-star center played for Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit — his competitive debut with USA Basketball — and helped the U.S. top the World team 98-75 on April 14 in Portland, Ore. Johnson finished with eight points on 3 of 4 shooting to go with four rebounds and one blocked shot while tying Texas-bound guard Tre Johnson for the best plus/minus on the team with a plus-20.
Johnson also played last weekend at the Jordan Brand Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was again on the winning team and finished with six points and three rebounds for Team Flight.
"I wish I could have went 4 for 4 with McDonald’s," Johnson said. He wasn't selected for the McDonald's All-American Game played in Houston last month.
"It’s great being able to play in those games and play against high-level players and practice and be around them for that long of a time," Johnson continued. "You get to pick their brains. See how other high-level players think and how they work out. Those exposure, all-American games, they’re fun. You learn a lot. You get so many opportunities out there to get better. You’ve just got to be around the right people and have your head in the right place. I also had a great time competing against those guys. I loved it."
