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Illinois Freshman Morez Johnson Makes Recruiting Pitch To Potential Target Jasper Johnson

Shandel Richardson|
Team Thad’s Jasper Johnson (2) prepares to shoot a free throw during a game against Team Bradley Beal Elite during the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League session one on Friday, April 26, 2024 at the Memphis Sports & Event Center in Memphis, Tenn.
Team Thad’s Jasper Johnson (2) prepares to shoot a free throw during a game against Team Bradley Beal Elite during the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League session one on Friday, April 26, 2024 at the Memphis Sports & Event Center in Memphis, Tenn. | Stu Boyd II-The Commercial Appeal / USA

Incoming freshman Morez Johnson has yet to play a game for Illinois Fighting Illini but is already trying to improve the program.

Johnson, who was Mr. Basketball in Illinois last season, made a recruiting pitch to potential target Jasper Johnson via social media. Jasper Johnson had his official visit over the weekend. When Jasper Johnson posted a photo of himself holding an orange Illini jersey on X, the other Johnson thought it was the perfect time to help coach Brad Underwood.

"I think orange look wonderful on you," Morez Johnson replied to the photo.

Underwood could use all the help he can get to help sway the 6-foot-4 Johnson, who is rated the No. 10 player in the country by 247Sports. He is set to begin his senior year at Link Academy in Missouri. Like former Illini guard Terrence Shannon, Johnson is left-handed and known for his athleticism and ability to get to the rim.

Underwood has to put in a lot of work to land Johnson. He is being strongly coveted by North Carolina and Kentucky. He also has an upcoming visit at Alabama later this week.

This could be an epic haul for Underwood if he's able to pull in his top targets. Aside from Johnson, the Illini are also awaiting today's announcement from standout Will Riley.

Riley is expected to decide between Illinois, Kentucky, Alabama, Arizona and the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL. A rising senior at The Phelps School in Malvern, Penn., he is rated the No. 26 player in the nation by ESPN.

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illini Now. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here