Findlay starts ’09-10 where it finished ’08-09 — No. 1

Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 | 1:34 p.m.

Findlay College Prep opens the 2009-10 season as the No. 1 basketball team in the land, according to a national poll of insiders, writers and coaches.

Not a surprise, since the Pilots went 33-0 last season in capturing the inaugural ESPN National High School Invitational championship, defeating vaunted Oak Hill for the title in Maryland.

Findlay coach Mike Peck, 65-1 in his two seasons guiding the Pilots, returns standout point guard Cory Joseph, and senior power forwards Tristan Thompson and Godwin Okonji.

Outstanding newcomers include guards Nick Johnson and Jabari Brown, and forwards Winston Shepard and Dekeeba Battee-Aston.

Findlay opens its season Nov. 13, against National College Prep, at home inside the Henderson International School gym. The Pilots play No. 2 Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick and No. 4 Columbus (Ohio) Northland in individual games this season.

Findlay’s Dec. 12 game against local power Bishop Gorman will be played at the Orleans Arena.

The National Prep Basketball Poll is compiled by PrepNation.com, in Urbandale, Iowa.

The poll:

1. Findlay, 33-0

2. Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick, 30-3

3. Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill, 40-1

4. Columbus (Ohio) Northland, 27-1

5. Los Angeles Westchester, 35-2

6. Houston Yates, 34-1

7. Bloomington (Ind.) South, 26-0

8. Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei, 31-2

9. Newark (N.J.) St. Benedict’s, 24-3

10. Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton, 24-8

11. Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha, 31-4

12. Rockville (Md.) Montrose Christian, 25-3

13. Chicago Young, 26-9

14. Covington (Ky.) Holmes, 36-2

15. Detroit Pershing, 26-1

16. Winter Park (Fla.), 24-8

17. Cedar Hill (Texas), 35-4

18. Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler, 25-7

19. Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft, 27-5

20. Washington Gonzaga, 29-5

21. Ames (Iowa), 26-0

22. St. Louis Chaminade, 27-4

23. Memphis (Tenn.) White Station, 31-7

24. New York Rice, 25-3

25. Kinston (N.C.), 29-3

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By Lenny_V

11/2/09 at 9:21 p.m.

Suggest removal

So, the Bishop Gorman game is being played before the Rebels-Wildcats game?
By Rob Miech

11/2/09 at 11:51 p.m.

Suggest removal

After, Lenny ... UNLV-KState at 4 pm ... Gaels-Pilots at 8 pm
By Lenny_V

11/3/09 at 10:22 a.m.

Suggest removal

Would have been smarter to schedule them before, let Cory Joseph et al feel the Rebel love in the building.
By RebCraze7

11/4/09 at 8:42 p.m.

Suggest removal

So neat to have a young basketball powerhouse like Findlay in our backyard. And with every team that they have that's loaded with talent (each of the last two and obviously this one) it always makes me curious as to who might be interested in UNLV? I know it's very early, but are there any juniors or seniors on the team that have expressed interest in attending UNLV?