Johnson's Career & Season Game-By-Game Stats (PDF)

2024-25 FRESHMAN

• Played in 30 games with eight starts, averaging 7.0 points and ranked second on the team in rebounding at 6.7 rpg
• Set Illini freshman field goal percentage record, currently at 64.2%
• Eight games scoring in double figures, with recorded three double-doubles
• Seven points and a team-leading seven rebounds (four offensive) in NCAA Tournament Round 2 vs. #18 Kentucky (3/23)
• Six points and five rebounds in NCAA Tournament debut vs. Xavier (3/21)
• Six points, nine rebounds (three offensive) and four blocks in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal vs. #11 Maryland (3/14). 
• Returned from injury to post four points and eight rebounds (5 offensive) in Big Ten Tournament Round 2 win vs. Iowa (3/13). 
• Missed final five games of the regular season with left wrist fracture, suffered on a fall after a blocked shot vs. #11 Michigan State (2/15)
• Tied for team lead with 17 points (6-8 FGs, 5-7 FTs) with five rebounds, two blocks and two steals vs. #11 Michigan State (2/15)
• Posted 8 points (4-5 FGs) and six rebounds (three offensive) in win vs. UCLA (2/11)
• 11 points (3-3 FGs, 5-6 FTs) with five rebounds in fifth consecutive start at Rutgers (2/5)
• 14 points (6-8 FGs) and a team-season-high 15 rebounds (seven offensive) in fourth consecutive start vs. Ohio State (2/2)
• Five points and five rebounds (two offensive) with three blocks in third consecutive start at Nebraska (1/30)
• 15 points (5-8 FGs), nine rebounds (5 offensive) and three blocks in a career-high 34 minutes in second consecutive start vs. Northwestern (1/26)
• Made first-career start with five points and two rebounds vs. Maryland (1/23)
• 11 points, on 3-3 FGs and a career-high five FTs, with six rebounds at Michigan State (1/19)
• 10 rebounds – fourth game with double-figures boards – and five points at Indiana (1/14)
• Tied for game high with eight rebounds (five offensive) and two blocks vs. USC (1/11)
• Second double-double with a career-high 20 points and game-high 11 rebounds while shooting 9-for-11 (.818), the team’s top single-game shooting percentage of the season
• Four points and five rebounds in just nine minutes at Washington (1/5)
• Four points, three rebounds, and two blocks in 16 minutes at #9 Oregon (1/2)
• 11 points (4-5 FGs, 3-4 FTs) with eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals vs. Chicago State (12/29)
• Tied the freshman record for rebounds in a Braggin’ Rights game (8) and added six points on a career-high tying three field goals vs. Missouri (12/22)
• Two points and two rebounds in 12 minutes vs. #1 Tennessee (12/14)
• Four rebounds (two offensive) and an assist in home win vs. #20 Wisconsin (12/10)
• Six points, five rebounds, and one assist in Big Ten debut at Northwestern (12/6)
• Six points, four rebounds, and two steals vs. #19 Arkansas in Kansas City (11/28)
• Eight points, a game-high-tying 11 rebounds, and a block in a season-most 22 minutes vs. Little Rock (11/25)
• First career double-double with 10 points and 13 boards vs. UMES (11/230
• Tied for the team lead with eight rebounds vs. SIUE (11/8)
• Tied the Illinois freshman record for blocks (6), the most in an Illini debut since at least 1979, with eight rebounds in season-opener vs. Eastern Illinois (11/4)

HIGH SCHOOL

• Attending Thornton Township High School as a senior, playing for coach Tai Streets
• Also played for Coach Streets in AAU with MeanStreets 
• Top-ranked player in the state and a consensus national top-30 recruit with four-star ratings from Rivals (26), On3 (28), ESPN (28) and 247Sports (29)
• Voted the 2024 Illinois Mr. Basketball, Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, and Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, and Champaign News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year following his senior season at Thornton Township High School
• As a senior in 2023-24, averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three steals while leading the Wildcats to a 25-9 record.
• Helped USA Basketball win the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 
• Finished the AmeriCup as the top rebounder in the tournament at 9.0 boards per contest, including 2.7 per game on the offensive glass, while also averaging 8.0 points on 62.1% shooting and swatting 1.2 blocks per game
• Member of the 2024 USA Men's Nike Hoop Summit team that defeated the World Select squad 98-75, where he recorded 8 points (3-4 FG, 2-4 FT), 4 rebounds (3 offensive) and 1 block in 12 minutes
• Previously attended St. Rita High School
• Averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks as a junior, earning first-team All-State, All-City, and All-Conference honors
• Led St. Rita to 23-11 record, Class 4A Sectional Semifinal, and Catholic League Blue title
• Nike EYBL Peach Jam first-team selection by The Circuit, averaging 17 points and leading the tournament with average of 13.2 rebounds
• Peach Jam pool play MVP

PERSONAL

• Born Jan. 25, 2006
• Enrolled in the Division of General Studies 
• Parents are Morez Johnson Sr. and Natasha Jones 
• Grew up in Riverdale, Ill.
• Has a younger sister, Moriah 
• In spare time enjoys watching 90s TV sitcoms like Martin, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and The Wayans Brothers 
• Favorite player is Kevin Durant 
• Proudest basketball achievement is winning Illinois Mr. Basketball 
• Credits his father and former St. Rita coach Roshawn Russell as the people who have most influenced his basketball career 
• Committed to Illinois as a high school sophomore in November 2021
• Signed with Illinois Nov. 8, 2023