Another day and another huge need addressed in the transfer portal by Michigan basketball.
The Wolverines needed two frontcourt pieces to replace Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf. Wolf hasn't declared for the NBA draft yet but he's expected to. Goldin is out of eligibility
Morez Johnson, a near five-star prospect in the 2024 class according to the 247 Sports composite rankings (30th overall,) surprisingly entered the portal after one season with Illinois. He averaged 7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks last season.
NEWS: Illinois transfer forward Morez Johnson has committed to Michigan, he tells @On3sports.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 1, 2025
The 6-9 freshman averaged 7.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. https://t.co/lTSeODUFPI pic.twitter.com/tGluYDXtRH
The 6-foot-9 forward was highly sought after yet committed to the Wolverines. Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas, and Ohio State were the other teams involved. But Michigan basketball has a clear need, a role he can play, even if Wolf returns, and here are three thoughts on a massive commitment for Dusty May.
Another need addressed
Michigan has clear needs to address in the portal, and finding a low-scoring presence was one of those. Saying Johnson will be that is a bit of a projection, but he was a force last season in a limited role. He shot 64 percent from the field, and 67 percent against Big Ten teams in 16 games with eight starts. In those conference games, he averaged 8.2 points and 6.4 rebounds, as well as 0.9 blocks in 19.7 minutes.
It's not hard to project Johnson as a double-double guy. His offense needs more refining and he didn't make a single 3-pointer last season, although he does have the ability to. He shot 66 percent from the free throw line during conference play and 61 percent for the season.
You can tell by the interest that Johnson is one of the top players available, and the fact that Michigan won this recruitment is a good sign in more ways than one.
A good fit for multiple reasons
The Wolverines added one of the most dynamic playmakers available in the transfer portal on Monday, then lost their 2024-25 point guard on Tuesday.
It felt like Donaldson could have played alongside Cadeau. He shot 37 percent from 3-point range this season and is good off the catch. He could have been fine in more of an off-ball role, plus Dusty May likes to have multiple point guards/creators on the floor.
Donaldson shared the primary playmaking role with Wolf last season, but the Wolverines also have L.J. Cason and five-star signee Trey McKenney. The point of all this is that Michigan brought in a ball-screen heavy guard.
Johnson is a great fit for that. A big chunk of his points last season came on ball screens. He can be a lob threat, although he's better at rolling and even cutting to the basket.
Still, the Wolverines needed a reliable finisher, which Johnson can be. He's a ferocious rebounder and was already among the best offensive rebounders in the Big Ten (2.7 per game). He will also help shore up some of the rebounding issues from last season.
The Wolverines are playing the NIL game
Over the past two days, Michigan basketball has signed two of the best players in the transfer portal. Both players were underclassmen this past season and former top-30 recruits.
Cadeau wasn't perfect at North Carolina. But his game was trending up and in terms of playmaking, he's proven in that department. You don't have five double-digit assist games without being a legit playmaker.
That took some NIL money and my guess is that it took even more to land Johnson. Just look at the contenders -- Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Those are some of the biggest spenders, and the fact that the Wolverines were able to win out tells you they can compete for any transfer portal prospect.
That's exciting with the Wolverines being named a contender for Yaxel Lendeborg, who averaged 17.7 points per game last season for UAB, in addition to 11.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.7 steals, and 4.2 assists. The 6-foot-9 forward also shot 52 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range (70 3-point field goals in 2024-25).
Lendeborg might be the best Danny Wolf replacement Michigan could ask for. It will take a pretty penny to get him but that had to be the case with Johnson and Cadeau, so anything seems possible.