The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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56 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2025 ❱ 2025 TRANSFER PORTAL ADDITIONS Six days after entering the NCAA transfer portal, North Carolina point guard transfer Elliot Cadeau committed to Michigan on March 31. Cadeau spent two years in Chapel Hill and has a pair of seasons of eligibility remaining. Cadeau averaged 9.2 points, 5.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game this past season, helping the Tar Heels post a 23-14 record and make the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed. Cadeau started all 37 games as the team's point guard. He shot 49.2 percent on twos (97-of-197) and 33.7 percent on threes (29-of-86), along with 67 percent at the free throw line (65-of-97). Cadeau shot 59.3 percent at the rim, 40 percent on other in-the-paint twos (floaters, runners, etc.) and 42.9 percent on mid-range jumpers. The Michigan transfer commit isn't a prolific scorer, posting double figures in only 18 games a year ago, but he is a dy- namic playmaker as a passer. Cadeau had a 38.2 percent assist rate that ranked 14th in the nation. His 37.7 percent assist rate during conference play slotted first in the ACC. Cadeau creates great shots for his team- mates. He ranked in the 99th percentile nationally with 3.4 assists per game on shots at the rim. Cadeau also played a key role for the Tar Heels as a freshman in 2023-24. Playing in 37 games with 31 starts, the West Orange, N.J., native recorded 7.3 points, 4.1 as- sists and 2.2 rebounds per clash. He shot 48.1 percent from inside the arc and 18.9 percent on 53 attempts from three-point distance. Cadeau struggled with his jump shot at times during his North Carolina ca- reer but made improvements. He also stepped up as a vocal leader for the Tar Heels heading into his sophomore cam- paign, something head coach Hubert Davis praised him for. "He's always thinking about the team, and then his overall leadership is just off the chart," Davis said, per USA To- day. "The way that he holds himself ac- countable and the encouragement that he gives his teammates. … The difference of Elliott as a sophomore compared to a freshman, it's really neat about his pro- gression." Cadeau attended Link Academy in Missouri before heading to the college level. He was a five-star recruit and the nation's No. 13 overall player in the 2023 class, per the On3 Industry Ranking. — Clayton Sayfie Elliot Cadeau Is Michigan's Next Point Guard Illinois fans haven't liked Michigan's athletic teams for years, but those old enough especially resent U-M basket- ball for upsetting their 1989 "Flyin' Illini" team in the Final Four. The Wolverines went on to win it all, while Illinois was left to wonder what might have been. Lately, though, the Illini have had Michigan's number on the hardwood, having captured nine straight over the Wolverines. U-M head coach Dusty May retaliated for this year's loss by landing power forward Morez Johnson Jr., ranked by On3 as the No. 34 overall player in the transfer portal, April 1. Michigan landed the forward over of- fers from Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio State, Tennessee and others. The Riverdale, Ill., native, was Illinois' top-rated signee, the No. 28 overall re- cruit as a four-star prospect at Thorn- ton Township. He also rated as the No. 5 power forward in his class per the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted aver- age that utilizes all four major recruiting media sites. Johnson averaged 7.0 points per game and shot an Illinois freshman record 64.2 percent in his one season with the Illini, adding 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 30 games. The Wolverines were looking to add some toughness, and he and fresh- man forward Oscar Goodman should help in that area. Johnson brings the kind of physicality May is looking to add ahead of his second season at the helm in Ann Arbor. Johnson's 17.2 percent offensive re- bounding rate would have led the Big Ten had the sophomore-to-be met the min- utes threshold. Illinois had a 41.6 percent offensive rebounding rate when Johnson was on the floor, 32.1 percent when he was off. "It was a rare occasion where he wasn't the toughest guy on the court," said Scott Richey, The News-Gazette's Illinois beat writer. "The energy and effort he ex- pended to rebound was notable from Day 1. I actually saw some of it in high school, but in a lot of instances he was just in- credibly so far advanced past his oppo- nents that you took it for granted the fact that he was putting up 20 and 10 on the regular in high school. "But as a freshman in college, he didn't back down from the physicality. It helps that he came in with a college-ready body." Johnson wasn't asked to do much of- fensively, Richey noted, but those who saw him practice have said he can shoot it. "He's got seemingly good form," Richey said. "I don't know how much you can really draw from makes when nobody's guarding you, but I know that he wants to enhance that part of his game, show that part of his game more. The role that he was asked to play and did play this season — he just wasn't asked to do that." Johnson should get that opportunity in Ann Arbor, though, as a likely starter for a revamped team. — Chris Balas Wolverines Add Tough-As-Nails Forward Morez Johnson Jr. From Illinois ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ North Carolina West Orange, N.J. Position: Guard Class: Junior Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 180 On3 Transfer Portal Rankings: No. 14 point guard and No. 72 overall ❱ Elliot Cadeau ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Illinois Riverdale, Ill. Position: Power Forward Ht.: 6-9 • Wt.: 255 On3 Transfer Portal Rankings: No. 9 at power forward and No. 34 overall ❱ Morez Johnson Jr.