NEWS: Illini center Morez Johnson Jr. enters transfer portal

The ever-changing world of college athletics has struck again—this time, shaking up the Illinois Basketball program. In a shocking development, freshman forward Morez Johnson Jr. has now officially entered his name into the transfer portal, per multiple reports. 

This may certainly come as surprising news to many Illini fans, as there were early rumblings that Johnson had planned to stay in Champaign.

Unfortunately, this is yet another reminder of how fluid roster management has become in today’s NIL and transfer portal era. Keeping a team together isn’t just a challenge—it’s a daily battle, where relationships and circumstances can change in an instant. While the Illini have certainly benefited from these new rules and resources, today was not one of those days.

Despite sharing minutes with talented big man Tomislav Ivisic, Johnson made a significant impact for the Fighting Illini in 2025. The 6’9” freshman averaged 7.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 64% from the field, proving to be a key presence in the frontcourt.

Now, the pressing questions emerge: Why did Morez decide to move on from Illinois? And just as crucially, who will the Illini staff turn to in order to fill this unexpected and significant void?

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