In Christopher Kline's latest mock draft for FanSided, the Philadelphia Sixers selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 22 pick. The sophomore is enjoying a breakout season with a Wolverines squad that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.
This draft class is full of talent, so although Johnson is currently projected to go in the latter half of the second round, he would be a great addition for the Sixers. Kline sums it up perfectly here:
"He's one of the most disruptive and impactful defenders in college basketball, with an increasingly compelling offensive profile, to boot."
He stands six-foot-nine with a seven-foot-two wingspan and is 250 pounds. Johnson is part of Michigan's three-big frontcourt, alongside Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara, which has led to the Wolverines having a top-ranked defense. His versatility, athleticism, and physicality fuel his team on that end.
Johnson can go toe-to-toe with opposing bigs down low, operate as a weak-side rim protector, and switch onto guards on the perimeter. His defensive prowess makes him an intriguing prospect, but that's not all. He's averaging 7.3 rebounds per game this season, and in Michigan's first two NCAA tournament wins, he averaged nine rebounds (10 against Howard and eight against Saint Louis University).
Sixers could luck out if Morez Johnson Jr. fell to them on draft night
Philadelphia needs as much frontcourt insurance as it can get with Joel Embiid. While Johnson should primarily play the four spot at the next level (having Johnson and Embiid on the floor together would be scary fun), he can play the five in small-ball lineups.
Johnson's biggest question mark is his impact on the offensive end, but he is shooting 37.5% from three on 0.9 attempts per game. That's part of his game that he expanded from his first season at Illinois to now, and he could evolve into a floor-spacing big. He did shoot 100% from three against Howard. Who cares that it was on just one attempt?
Overall, Johnson is shooting 63.6% from the field on 7.9 attempts per contest. As for the free-throw line, he shot 61.8% last season, averaging three attempts per contest, to 79.3% on 3.8 attempts this season. That's a considerable jump.
There's a lot to like about how Johnson has looked this season in a new environment, and it's a plus, of course, that he has contributed to winning basketball in the process. If he's still on the board when Philadelphia makes its pick, it'd be hard to see the organization going any other route.
Be sure to tune into Michigan and Alabama on Friday at 7:35 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV to get a look at Johnson, who could be a Sixer in a few short months.