It is official. Morez Johnson Jr. plans to stay in the 2026 NBA Draft. The star big man of the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines initially entered the draft with plans to retain his eligibility. He was hoping to get a first-round grade. With how well he looked at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago earlier this month, Johnson is almost certainly going to get his wish by becoming a top-30 selection.
So with him needing to make a decision soon, he opted to pen a letter over social media to declare.
"Michigan means everything to me. You want to be somewhere that pushes you, supports you and helps you grow on and off the court. Michigan gave me all of that. From the fans to the alumni base, it's a special place. From day one, Coach May talked about development, accountability and competing for championships. I'm proud of everything we accomplished together."
Johnson was especially appreciative of Dusty May, his teammates, and everyone else at Michigan.
"To my teammates, Coach May, the staff, academic support, teachers and friends, thank you. I'll always be proud to be a Michigan Wolverine. I'm excited for the opportunity to chase my dream of playing in the NBA. Every step of this journey has helped prepare me for this moment, and I'm grateful for everyone who's been a part of it. Go Blue Forever - Rez."
Here is the post Johnson shared on his X account on Tuesday afternoon saying it is time for the NBA.
AGTG🙏🏾 Let’s do it pic.twitter.com/tsvUHrjeEm
— Morez Johnson Jr. (@morezjohnsonJr) May 19, 2026
This message placed on social media adds even more finality to Johnson's illustrious Michigan career, even more so than the national championship tattoo he just got done on his wrist to commemorate it. As long as he had a strong combine, the chances of him withdrawing from the 2026 NBA Draft like his former teammate Elliot Cadeau did were slim to none. He can now chase his dream.
What this also means is May will now need to fill Michigan's last roster spot with Johnson declaring.
Morez Johnson Jr. to stay in the 2026 NBA Draft after his great combine
The big thing to unpack here from Johnson's standpoint is not only will he likely make good NBA money as a probable first-round pick, but the chances of him going to a team of quality are quite high. Since he is not really a lottery pick, he is increasingly likely to go to a franchise that just got eliminated from the NBA playoffs. While he may be a big talent coming out of Michigan, where he lands matters.
As for Michigan, Johnson's decision to stay in the draft adds another wrinkle of difficulty for May and the rest of the team to potentially pull off a repeat. Cadeau may be coming back, but Yaxel Lendeborg is out of eligibility and Aday Mara got excellent feedback upon entering the draft. In essence, three-quarters of their core from a year ago will be no more at Michigan. Next year will be about next year...
Right now, you have to applaud a player like Johnson for thinking long and hard about this decision. It was not an easy one, even though it was largely expected. This is why contingency plans are in place. May can now pivot to figure out who will be effectively taking Johnson's roster spot on next year's Michigan team. If they are able to get a player as impactful as him out of the portal, then that is great!
For now, let's appreciate all that Johnson accomplished during his time starring for the Wolverines.
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