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Illinois Incoming Freshman Morez Johnson To Compete For Team USA Basketball

Shandel Richardson|
Richwoods' Marlon Herron goes to the basket against Harvey Thornton's Morez Johnson Jr. late in the second half of their Class 3A boys basketball supersectional Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School. The Knights advanced to the state semifinals with a 58-52 win.
Richwoods' Marlon Herron goes to the basket against Harvey Thornton's Morez Johnson Jr. late in the second half of their Class 3A boys basketball supersectional Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School. The Knights advanced to the state semifinals with a 58-52 win. | MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR / USA TODAY

Before he arrives at the University of Illinois this fall, incoming freshman Morez Johnson gets the opportunity to represent his country.

Johnson was selected to the USA Basketball Men's U18 national team. He is one of 12 players to make the roster. The AmeriCup takes place Jun3 3-9 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The 6-foot-9 Johnson was named Illinois Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year after his senior season at Thornton Township High School. Last season he averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three steals. He led the team to a 25-9 record.

He was ranked as a Top 30 recruit by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports.

FEARS ALSO ON TEAM USA

Five-star Illinois Fighting Illini commit Jeremiah Fears is taking his talents to Team USA this summer as a member of the U18 group.

Fears announced the commitment on Instagram Tuesday morning with the caption, "Honored and Blessed." He is no stranger to playing with Team USA, winning gold medals at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup and 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.

The junior at AZ Compass was a major reason for the team's 20-5 record this season. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 14.2 points and 2.5 steals in 13 games. 

THE ILLINI LANDS LITHUANIAN GUARD

The Illinois Fighting Illini have reportedly reeled in another player with NBA talent.

According to a report by ESPN, the Illini have received a verbal commitment from Lithuania guard Kasparas Jakucionis. The 6-foot-6 Jakucionis is projected as a first-round pick in the 2025 draft.

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