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Michigan Transfer Addition Morez Johnson Gets High Praise From Former Teammate, NBA Draft Hopeful
© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The Michigan Wolverines secured a transfer portal haul for their basketball team that included three big men and a guard, including power forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who has suddenly become a potential first round NBA draft pick.

Lendeborg was expected to join North Carolina point guard Elliot Cadeau, UCLA center Aday Mara and Illinois forward Morez Johnson in the Wolverines' 2025 transfer portal class, which currently ranks as one of the best in the nation.

If Lendeborg ends up going pro as is now widely expected, the Wolverines may have to rely extra on Johnson, the athletic Fighting Illini forward with a significant amount of untapped potential.

Recently, Johnson was the recipient of high praise from an NBA draft hopeful and former teammate heading toward the rest of what should be an eventful offseason. 

"He's a great player," NBA draft participant Will Riley said according to Clayton Safie of On3.com about Johnson.

"He's probably one of the best teammates I've ever played with. He's just a good guy overall." 

The Riverdale, Illinois native Johnson and the Kitchener, Ontario native Riley were teammates last season for coach Brad Underwood's team in Champaign. 

Riley finished third on the Illini in scoring with 12.6 points per game and is currently testing the waters of June's 2025 NBA draft. 

Johnson finished seventh on Underwood's team in scoring with seven points per game along with 6.7 rebounds and is expected to receive an expanded role in Ann Arbor with the Wolverines this fall, a change that could help spark greater things from a player with NBA level athleticism and developing skills. 

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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