Illinois freshman Morez Johnson Jr. out indefinitely with a broken wrist: 'Some guys are going to have to step up'

Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune on Feb 17, 2025

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CHICAGO — Illinois freshman Morez Johnson Jr. will be out “for a good bit” after breaking his wrist in Saturday’s loss to Michigan State, coach Brad Underwood told reporters in Champaign, Ill., on Monday.

Underwood said Johnson is in a cast and he didn’t have a timeline for a return. Johnson’s injury leaves the Illini (17-9, 9-7 Big Ten) without a key starter as they prepare to face No. 11 Wisconsin on Tuesday in Madison.

Johnson, a 6-foot-9 forward, is averaging 7.2 points and 6.6 rebounds, had started the last eight games and had scored in double figures three times in February. He had 17 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals against Michigan State.

Asked how Johnson’s absence would affect the Illini, Underwood replied, “We’ll find out.”

“(Guard) Tre White is back and healthy, and (forward) Carey Booth and all those guys are going to have to give us some opportunities,” Underwood said. “Early in the year, we were playing Morez, as his development was growing, 8, 10, 12 minutes a game, and we’ll go back to that again. Obviously you’ve got an elite offensive rebounder that you’re going to miss, and some guys are going to have to step up.”

Johnson, the 2024 Mr. Basketball of Illinois at Thornton, suffered the injury on a second-half block when he sprinted down the court to knock away a fast-break layup attempt by Michigan State guard Tre Holloman. Johnson fell hard on his arms after the two-handed block and stayed on the floor for several moments.

He continued to play for much of the final seven minutes despite the injury. The Illini missed their final 19 shots over 8 minutes, 29 seconds to lose 79-65.

“He hit the floor pretty hard and was tough enough to bounce up and just say, ‘Tape it,’” Underwood said. “That impacted a couple of his close misses at the rim as well late in the game.

“I feel terrible for the young man. What an incredible play. It’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long time, and unfortunately that injury happened.”

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, whose team came back from a 16-point first-half deficit, had high praise for Johnson, whom Izzo had watched on the recruiting trail.

“Tough, great hands, does all the dirty work,” Izzo said. “One of the best offensive rebounders. He’s like my guy Antonio Smith, only he’s got probably 2, 3 inches on him and maybe even more skills.

“His future is enormous. He’s got toughness, and there’s not a lot of guys with toughness anymore. It’s like illegal.”

Underwood has lamented his team’s inability to stay healthy at times over the last month and a half, with guard Kasparas Jakucionis (wrist) and center Tomislav Ivisic (mononucleosis) previously missing time. Now the Illini will be without Johnson during a key late-season stretch that also includes games against No. 3 Duke, No. 12 Michigan and No. 13 Purdue.

But Underwood said he and his players are “going to rally.”

“We’ve got really good players,” he said. “We’re going to control the controllables. Unfortunate because Morez is outstanding. Control the controllables.”

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