Morez Johnson Wins Prep Hoops Illinois Player of the Year
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As we near the end of the high school basketball season it is time for us to name the 2024 Prep Hoops Illinois Player of the Year! This award is given out annually to the prospect that had the best season in terms of production, team success, and impact on the game throughout the state that season.
Without further ado we would like to congratulate Thornton senior Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL on winning the 2024 Prep Hoops Illinois Player of the Year Award! This season Johnson averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, and 3 steals per game while leading Thornton to a regular season record of 25-4 including wins over the second and third ranked players in the state on Metamora and Richwoods. Other key victories he led them to included Kenwood, Normal Community, Kankakee, Benet, and Bloom.
What we have always loved about Morez is how he plays the game. He does it the right way going about his business and not worrying about everything outside of the court. Another aspect is he has consistently improved his game. As you will see in our career recap he has improved his game throughout his career. Despite coming into high school among the best in his class he has a relentless work ethic that has allowed him to make great strides as an offensive player including post moves and most notably and improved face up game hitting jumpers at a solid clip from deep two and beyond the arc. His pure dominance as a player and the passion/joy that he plays with is so much fun to see out of a top player.
Career Retrospective
Now it is time for us to look back on just a few of the many times we had the opportunity to evaluate Johnson during his high school career. It was the covid summer and fall that Johnson entered high school at St. Rita next to another highly touted big man in future North Carolina commit James Brown. There was a lot of buzz about them. Our first chance to see him was at the Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp heading into his first season. Here is what we saw.
Johnson is a four man that stands at 6’6” with a long and thin frame. Very good defender that knows how to use his length and lateral quickness to make an impact on that end. Gets steals using his quick hands to get deflections helping start the break the other way. Offensively he seals well in the post and flashed a sweet looking turnaround jumper from out of the post. A ton of upside here!
With the state of Illinois shut down there was an opportunity in December for top prospects to show their talent in the Rock N Ball League in Indiana. Johnson took the opportunity and shined.
Johnson continues to impress this fall/winter. He is looking like one of the premier prospects in the 2024 class early on. Projectable power forward that is extremely active on the glass as an offensive rebounder. Knocks in mid-range jumpers and is a force defensively with his mobility along with his shot blocking prowess.
After the state of Illinois decided teams could play a six week season we saw the debut of Johnson with St. Rita against Providence Catholic along with another matchup a few days later against the Christie brothers at Rolling Meadows.
The other stud 2024 Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL had the play of the game on an absolutely explosive dunk that if the gym was full would have brought the house down. Power forward works well in the high/low as a passer.
Johnson also shined in his first road game of his career. He is a 6’7” power forward with a long and lean frame. Bouncy athlete that ran the floor hard for a dunk, had a jump stop finish in traffic, and was active on the offensive boards as well. Like what we have seen early this year of what he can be as a passer too especially in the high/low. Went for 8 points.
The Riverside Brookfield Live Event that summer would allow college coaches their first look at the talented rising sophomore. He didn’t disappoint!
Johnson wowed college coaches in many of their first looks at him. He has size at about 6’8” with broad shoulders and plus plus athleticism. Fits the new game with his mobility on the interior and being able to put it on the deck from the mid-post. Mid-range jump shots and finished well around the hoop through contact. High-major guy all the way!
Morez was very loyal playing with Meanstreets ‘ last=”] his entire grassroots career. There was one weekend when they were not playing that he ran with Indy Premier and showed out at a Prep Hoops event in Indy.
St. Rita 2024 power forward Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL is one of the premier young prospects in the state of Illinois. He played like it. Looked like a man among boys swatting jump shots right back at guards on the perimeter while protecting the rim at the same time. Snatched rebounds in traffic. When his team needed a bucket he got it on the block, scoring from the mid-post, and even hit a clutch three late for 17 points.
That fall at Pangos he was ready to show he was the best player in the state.
Johnson had the most impressive single game we saw all day. The St. Rita power forward and #2 overall prospect in 2024 was an absolute man child doing whatever he wanted. He took his man from the high-post off the bounce for scores. Spin moves, seals, and all of them finishing with dunks. Worked well in the pick/roll and spaced the floor with his shooting. Dominated the glass as well.
That fall he was named the #2 overall prospect in the state of Illinois by our staff in the Prep Hoops Illinois annual Top 50 Regardless of Class Rankings. After his commitment to Illinois which we discuss later in the recruiting part of this story he had become a rock star when his team debuted at the Washington TOC including an epic contest against top ranked senior and Duke bound Jaden Schutt.
This Illini commit has been a fan favorite in Washington all week. Johnson is explosive around the hoop with his ability to finish. Jump stops, spin moves, rim runs, hitting the offensive glass for second chance points. He did a little bit of everything. Slams it with so much authority. Love the tenacity that he plays with. Finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
He was able to take his game to southern Illinois at the Highland Shootout as a sophomore where he went against future #2 in the class Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL .
The Illini commit had a lot of southern Illinois fans excited to see him. It wasn’t a dominant performance like we have seen at times this year, but he definitely managed to show what he has in his bag. Flashed to the middle for a mid-range jumper, short jump hooks, hit a three, and flew in for rebounds. Displayed some of the tools that make him a high-major big on the defensive end. Scored 11 points.
That spring with Meanstreets ‘ last=”] Johnson started to make a case that he was actually the top prospect in the state over his high school teammate. That began at the Prep Hoops Chi-Town Tip Off!
Johnson is making a strong case for #1. The Illini commit is a broad shouldered four that has filled out his frame with strength. Such an explosive athlete around the hoop with his bounce off the floor for finishes above the rim which several times we thought he might bring the whole thing down. Tremendous rim runner and dive threat. Love how well he gets up and down the floor. Snatches rebounds in traffic, defends all over the floor, and protects the rim. Illinois got a good one early on!
Continued that momentum back with St. Rita during the June live period at Ridgewood.
Johnson brings so much tenacity every time we see him play. The Illini commit is a four man with a great frame and continues to add strength to his upper body. High level rebounder that gets them both in and out of his area. He goes after them like they are his alone. Finishes with force on the interior throwing down huge slams. Excellent defender blocking shots along with being a lateral defender.
Started his junior year back at the Washington TOC. This one was special for Johnson as the entire Illini coaching staff along with the majority of the team was front and center to support their guy.
In front of his future teammates at Illinois Johnson displayed what he is best at which is rebounding the ball at a high rate. The volume board man is so aggressive going after rebounds and high-pointing them in traffic. His quick second jump was shown on both ends of the floor. Offensively his game keeps making strides. Explosive and quick twitched finisher in the paint having the dunk of the tournament at TOC on a spin move for a slam. Went for 14 points and double digit rebounds in their loss to Joliet West.
He was continuing to progress each time he stepped on the floor including a week later at Chicago Elite Classic.
Johnson made a strong case for the #1 spot in the 2024 rankings against Simeon. Despite his team losing Johnson was very good. The Illini commit always brings the energy and Saturday was no different. He dominated on the glass snatching them in traffic, hit mid-range jumpers, and got to the foul line for 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The next season at the Highland Shootout he had an even bigger performance.
The Illini commit had a solid outing against Chaminade as he went for 16 points (8-17 FG), 7 rebounds (6 offensive), and 3 blocks. A few aspects standout with Johnson. First is his elite motor and how hard he plays. That is shown through on the offensive glass grabbing 6 boards with his quick second jump. Even if he misses he goes after it with the intent that he is going to put it back in. Pushed it some in transition including being fouled on a euro step. Good looking mid-range jumper. Powerful and explosive on the interior. High level shot blocker inside that can contest/swat them on the perimeter as well.
After this game a week later he had officially taken over the top spot in the 2024 class in Illinois which he would never relinquish. St. Rita would go on to lose in the sectionals that year. Then the chances would start. After coach Roshawn Russell stepped down the mass exodus from the Mustangs began. James Brown to Link Year, Melvin Bell to La Lumiere, Nojus Indrusaitis to Brewster. Where would Morez go? He opted to stay in-state unlike the others and play near home in the south suburbs at Thornton for his longtime program director with Meanstreets ‘ last=”] Tai Streets. His first big unveiling with his new team where he was flanked by 3 top 50 transfer guards was at Riverside Brookfield during the live period.
The no doubt #1 senior in Illinois was dominant in front of his future Illini coaches over the weekend. He was a force recording 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks in the game we saw. It was how he did it that was even more impressive. Massive dunks on quick moves, dominant on the glass in traffic, and hit a pair of jumpers including a three from the top of the key. I see no reason why he isn’t a five-star nationally.
Over the summer he had dominant showings at NBPA Top 100 Camp going against the best players in the country. Followed that up leading Meanstreets ‘ last=”] to a 5-0 record in pool play at Peach Jam while leading the entire event in rebounds. He had become not only the best player in Illinois without question, but one of the best in the country.
Senior Year
The reason he is getting this award is because of what he did as a senior. It all started off with a primetime matchup against fellow player of the year contender Rutgers commit and Richwoods star Lathan Sommerville Lathan Sommerville 6'9" | C Richwoods | 2024 State #85 Nation IL in Rockford.
Thornton star Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL showed why in our eyes he is a McDonald’s All-American. The high-energy post brought the intensity from the very jump. He was an absolute force on the glass high pointing them and snatching them in traffic. The offensive skill set continues to come fast! He had a drop step for a reverse layup, pick/pop three ball, quick dishes to teammates, and sealed in the post. Runs the floor about as well as anyone and was excellent getting to the foul line and making them in this close game. Defensively he used his quickness, length, and physicality to be effective. Johnson had 20 points and 15 rebounds on the night to go with a pair of blocks.
A week later he would show off his immense grit at Chicago Elite Classic.
The Illini commit played with a ton of toughness as he dislocated his finger in the first half, had it popped right back into place, and came back on the floor diving after loose balls and playing with his usual toughness on the interior. Takes charges, flies in for put backs, and was fouled through contact. Wasn’t his biggest game, but the top senior in Illinois did what he needed to for his team to get the win. Finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds.
He would get a big time matchup against the #2 senior in Illinois Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL again at Highland. This time Koch was with Metamora and Johnson was on Thornton.
Johnson lived up to the billing as the Illini commit once again showed out on the big stage. The Thornton star delivered leading his team to a win over Metamora. His elite motor, power/athletic low post game, and defense allowed him to dominate the game. Johnson racked up 17 points (7-11 FG), 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals. Loved how he used his length defensively including snatching a steal in the air like an outside linebacker grabbing a pick six. No doubt #1 player in senior class.
At the O’Fallon Shootout it wasn’t a dominant offensive showing, but certainly was defensively to start February.
Johnson is the top ranked senior in Illinois. It wasn’t his biggest outing of the year, but he still almost managed a double double notching 9 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a victory against Cardinal Ritter. The defense was packed in on him, but he still managed to dominate on the defensive end all night along with owning the boards from the jump. Elite prospect!
In the last game before this award was officially decided he had 21 points and 17 boards against Evergreen Park to march his team on in the tournament.
Recruiting Retrospective
Johnson’s recruitment was pretty quick. He went from highly ranked incoming freshman, to making noise during the summer heading into his sophomore year, to taking a few visits, and then ending it with a commitment to Illinois before his sophomore campaign even kicked off. It all started with a St. Rita tour of multiple schools in the fall of his sophomore season.
2024 James Brown and Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL will visit Illinois soon possibly on October 2 along with top 2025 Melvin Bell. Brown and Johnson will trip to Ohio State this upcoming weekend September 18. That duo along with Bell will then head to Purdue October 25. A trip to Oklahoma is also in the works for Brown and Johnson.
We saw him during this visit tour in person at an event and wanted to do a visit interview. Although Morez is one of the players I have had the best relationship with covering hoops for 15 years you could tell he was already over the recruiting process. I remember him saying something like “nobody cares about my visits.” Which was definitely not the case to the fanbases involved. I knew that this kid was different. He didn’t care about the spotlight. He wanted to ball and recruiting hype wasn’t important to him.
About a week later I got a call from his high school coach Roshawn Russell saying one of our guys is ready to make a decision. Morez wants to commit to Illinois. It took be back a little, but when you think about who he is as a person it didn’t. We planned the announcement for the next day to break it on Prep Hoops Illinois. Morez knew what he wanted and was ready to tell the world. Of the visit to Illinois which closed the deal he said, ““It was nice. I love Coach Underwood and Tim Anderson. I love the campus. They have some new stuff being done to the school. It was great.”
It was two years later in November of 2023 he would put pen to paper signing his national letter of intent with Illinois as the centerpiece of their 2024 class.
Past Winners
Congratulations to Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL on winning the 2024 Prep Hoops Illinois Player of the Year Award! Outstanding career, senior season, and great person.
Past winners of this award include
2016 – Charlie Moore (Morgan Park)
2017 – Mark Smith (Edwardsville)
2018 – Talen Horton-Tucker (Simeon)
2019 – EJ Liddell (Belleville West)
2020 – DJ Steward (Whitney Young)
2021 – Max Christie (Rolling Meadows)
2022 – Braden Huff (Glenbard West)
2023 – Owen Freeman and Brock Harding (Moline)
2024 –
Morez Johnson
Morez
Johnson
6'9" | PF
Thornton | 2024
State
#33
Nation
IL
(Thornton)