Morez Johnson Jr. appears to have changed the draft conversation in a hurry. Reporting from NBA insider Evan Sidery on Wednesday, May 13, says Johnson is now expected to remain in the 2026 NBA Draft after turning in a strong showing at the combine.
That matters because Johnson is no longer being talked about like a mid-round flyer. Sidery reported that decision-makers were buzzing about his elite measurements, athleticism, and improved shooting, with Johnson now widely viewed as a top-20 lock.
The rise makes basketball sense when you look at the tape and the production. After one season at Illinois and one at Michigan, Johnson built a résumé that shows real forward value: he averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 40 games for the Wolverines this past season while shooting 62.3 percent from the field.
His offensive profile has steadily expanded, too. At Michigan, Johnson knocked down 34.3 percent of his threes.
The numbers only sharpen the argument for staying in the draft. Over his two college seasons, he averaged 10.5 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 62.8 percent from the field.
The 2026 draft class has plenty of headline names at the top, but players who can move up boards during the pre-draft process often create the biggest shifts in value.
With the draft set for June 23 and 24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Johnson’s next decision now looks increasingly straightforward. The buzz around his name says enough: the league may already be treating him like a first-rounder.
