Riverdale’s Morez Johnson Jr. selected by Mavericks with No. 9 pick in NBA Draft

Riverdale native Morez Johnson Jr. was selected No. 9 in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Mavericks on Tuesday.

Johnson wasn’t even considered the top freshman prospect on the varsity basketball team when he started high school at St. Rita. The 6-9 forward continued improving throughout high school. He transferred to Thornton for his senior season and won the Sun-Times Player of the Year award in 2024.

“The first time I laid eyes on him I certainly believed he could be the best prospect in the class,” Roshawn Russell, who coached Johnson at St. Rita, said. “He was raw but had freak athleticism, speed and a high motor. He just needed some sharpening over time.”

Johnson committed to Illinois before the start of his sophomore year but played just one season in Champaign. He started eight games and averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds.

Johnson transferred to Michigan in April of 2025 and helped lead the Wolverines to the national championship this past season. He started 40 games and averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds while earning All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors.

Johnson was upset when he wasn’t named a McDonald’s All-American his season year of his school. Since that snub, he’s become a household name in basketball circles.

“That’s my ace. I give my all,” Johnson said back in 2024. “I’ve wondered why other guys take plays off. They are probably too big-headed, thinking their teammates can do the other stuff.”

It’s the second consecutive NBA draft with a south suburban player picked in the top 10. The Pelicans selected Joliet native Jeremiah Fears with the No. 7 pick last year.