COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Incoming Fighting Illini freshman Morez Johnson Jr. has been selected as one of 30 players set to compete at the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team training camp, beginning May 23 at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center.
Johnson, a 6-foot-9-inch, 225-pound power forward, will compete among the best players in the nation in the graduating classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026, vying for a spot on the 12-member team that will represent USA Basketball at the 2024 Men’s U18 AmeriCup, June 3-9, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A native of Riverdale, Ill., Johnson was selected as the 2024 Illinois Mr. Basketball and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year following his senior season at Thornton Township High School. As a senior, he averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three steals while leading the Wildcats to a 25-9 record. Johnson signed with the Illinois program last November. He is the 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).
Johnson was a part of the 2024 USA Men’s Junior National Select Team and helped lead the U.S. to victory over the World Select Team with eight points, four rebounds and a block in 12 minutes of action at the 25th Nike Hoop Summit in April. Johnson also participated at the 2023 USA Men’s Junior National Team minicamp last October and attended training camp for the 2022 USA Men’s U17 National Team.