Morez Johnson, Illinois recruit, makes big jump in 247Sports 2024 basketball rankings

Johnson is the top-ranked prospect in Illinois in 2024 class

Morez Johnson made a big jump this offseason with his transfer from St. Rita to Thornton Township

Now the 6-foot-9 standout center has made a big move in the 247Sports basketball recruiting rankings for the senior class.

Johnson, who committed to the University of Illinois in November of 2021, moved up 16 spots to No. 35 overall in the Class of 2024. 

A 6-9, 220-pounder, Johnson is rated as the top prospect in Illinois and the sixth-best center prospect nationally in the senior class.

Johnson is joined in 247Sports' top 100 prospects by Metamora power forward Cooper Koch, a 6-7 Iowa recruit who moved up 12 spots to No. 71 overall. 

St. Rita 2024 forward Morez Johnson has committed to the University of Illinois.
Morez Johnson blocks a shot during his junior season at St. Rita / Nate Latsch photo

Lathan Sommerville, a 6-9 center at Richwoods in Peoria who is committed to Rutgers, landed just outside the top 100 at No. 102 after moving up two spots. Sommerville is rated No. 80 in the 247Sports Composite, which takes into account other recruiting website rankings.

Yorkville power forward Jason Jakstys, a 6-10 power forward who committed to Illinois, is at No. 111 overall nationally after jumping up 76 spots.

Shooting guard Cole Certa, a Notre Dame commit who transferred from Bloomington Central Catholic to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior year, is now No. 74 nationally after moving up eight spots. 

Two of Johnson's former St. Rita teammates also made the top 100. 

Nojus Indrusaitis, a 6-5 shooting guard who is committed to Iowa State, landed at No. 79 overall. He has transferred from St. Rita to Brewster Academy in New Hampshire since last season. 

James Brown, a 6-9 center who committed to North Carolina, is at No. 91 overall. Brown transferred from St. Rita to Link Academy in Missouri following his junior season. 

Former Bloomington Central Catholic guard Cole Certa
Former Bloomington Central Catholic guard Cole Certa / Photo by Nate Latsch

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SBLive Sports: Illinois high school coverage | Illinois boys basketball coverage | Recruiting | Scores


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Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports
NATE LATSCH, SBLIVE SPORTS

Nate Latsch is a Regional Editor at SBLive Sports overseeing high school coverage for Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. A veteran sportswriter and multimedia content creator, Latsch has covered high school sports in the St. Louis area and Missouri for 20 years, with a focus on high school football, basketball, baseball and football and basketball recruiting.  He has worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, STLhighschoolsports.com, the Associated Press, FOX Sports Midwest, MLB.com and Scout.com.  In addition to covering high school sports, Latsch has covered youth, college and professional sports, including covering the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Rams, the University of Missouri and Saint Louis University.