Morez Johnson Jr. to Mavericks | Sports News

Morez Johnson Jr. is soaring to the Dallas Mavericks as the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft — a 6-foot-9 defensive force with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, elite shooting, and a relentless motor that helped Michigan win its second national title. Coming off a stellar sophomore season averaging 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting over 62% from the field, Johnson joins a rare trio of Wolverines selected in the first round — a feat only matched once before in 1990. Before college, he was Illinois Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year, and yes — he’s also a LEGO mastermind who’s thrilled to team up with fellow brick enthusiast Dereck Lively II. Wearing No. 14 — a tribute to his parents’ birthdays — Johnson also boasts gold medals from USA Basketball’s U19 and U18 tournaments and dropped 27 points in his summer league debut. The Mavericks are betting big on him to make an instant impact. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/69323606a3d712dc