Wisconsin is one of several programs expressing interest in Illinois transfer forward Morez Johnson Jr., according to a report from CBS' Jon Rothstein.
Rothstein listed the Badgers along with Arizona State, Arizona, Kansas State, DePaul, Ohio State, Iowa, USC, Michigan, NC State, UCLA, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Georgetown, Northwestern and Notre Dame.
Johnson Jr. entered the portal on March 28 after one year with the Fighting Illini. The former four-star recruit was the No. 31 overall player in the class of 2024, the No. 6 center and the No. 1 player from the state of Illinois. He lived up to that top recruiting billing as a true freshman at Illinois, appearing in 30 games and averaging 17.6 minutes, seven points and 6.7 rebounds.
The forward is now 247Sports' No. 24 overall player in the portal and No. 4 player at his position.
Johnson Jr. grabbed four rebounds in Illinois' Dec. 10 win over Wisconsin this past season. He then missed the second meeting between the two programs with a broken wrist.
The 6-foot, 9-inch forward played a key bench role for the Fighting Illini throughout the 2024-25 campaign. His best performances of the season include 17 points and five rebounds in a Feb. 15 loss to Michigan State, 14 points and 15 rebounds in a Feb. 2 win over Ohio State, 15 points and nine rebounds in a Jan. 26 win over Northwestern and 20 points and 11 rebounds in a Jan. 8 win over Penn State.
Illinois transfer Morez Johnson is receiving interest from the following programs, per his agent RaShay Russell.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 31, 2025
Arizona St
Arizona
Kansas St
DePaul
Ohio St
Iowa
USC
Michigan
NC St
UCLA
Arkansas
Ole Miss
Oklahoma
Georgetown
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is in contention with some of the top programs in the sport to land the highly-touted transfer big man. If the Badgers land his commitment, he'd immediately project as one of the team's top options.
Greg Gard and his coaching staff are working to bolster a razor-thin frontcourt rotation after the departures of starter Steven Crowl and key reserve Carter Gilmore. Nolan Winter is back to lead that group. The team adding Johnson Jr., or a different top contributor at the position, would go a long way toward helping it replicate its impressive 2024-25 campaign.
Johnson Jr.'s recruitment will be one to watch as the transfer cycle continues in the coming weeks and months.
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