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Illinois Basketball: 3 bold predictions for Illini commit Morez Johnson Jr.

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 2, 2022; College Park, Maryland, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2022; College Park, Maryland, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
CHAMPAIGN, IL – DECEMBER 06: General view of Illinois Fighting Illini basketballs seen before the game against the IUPUI Jaguars at State Farm Center on December 6, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Illinois basketball has one commitment for the class of 2024 thus far, but that one commitment is a special one.

The Illini were able to land four-star recruit Morez Johnson Jr. back in 2021. He has kept his pledge to the program for two years now and is solid in his commitment to the Orange and Blue.

Johnson played some great basketball over the last few years, and after a big AAU season, he is heading into his final year of high school basketball with Thornton Township High School.

I believe this is about to be a special season for Johnson when it comes to Thornton and his personal accomplishments.

Here are three bold predictions for Illinois basketball commit Morez Johnson Jr.

1. Morez Johnson Jr. will be elevated to a 5-star recruit

Throughout his career, Johnson has shown that he is one of the best players in the country. He improved his game each season in the three years he spent with St. Rita High School.

As a junior, Johnson would average 17.2 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. These impressive numbers helped get St. Rita to a 23-11 record last season.

But, as of right now, Johnson isn’t a five-star recruit. The two major recruiting sites, 247Sports and Rivals, have him as a four-star.

247Sports currently ranks Johnson as the No. 45 player in the class of 2024. This is a big jump from the No. 61 ranking they had for the kid in early March. Rivals thinks more highly of Johnson, as they rank him as the No. 31 recruit in the country.

It might be a little difficult for Johnson to make the jump to a five-star recruit on 247Sports’ site. Asa Newell is the No. 16 player in the country, and he is the last five-star on the board. A 29-spot jump to inside the top 16 could be tough.

Rivals, on the other hand, might be a legit possibility. Johnson just jumped 26 spots to No. 31. Jason Asemota is the last five-star on the list and is ranked No. 20 in the country. A solid start to his senior season at Thornton could easily put Johnson into the top 20 and a five-star recruit.

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