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StumbleUNLV among many programs vying for Cory Joseph
Findlay standout says there’s no timetable for his decision
Findlay Prep point guard Cory Joseph runs drills during practice Tuesday at the Henderson International School.
Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.
The Point of Attack
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Considered one of the top players in the Class of 2010, Findlay Prep Point Guard Cory Joseph has alot of options when it comes to colleges including UNLV. He talks about the colleges after him and where UNLV fits into the equation.
Official basketball practice at UNLV doesn’t start for more than a month, the first game is more than two months away and the NCAA tournament is way down the line.
However, this is a big weekend for Rebels hoops.
And Louisville. And Kansas. And Minnesota, Ohio State and Marquette, among many others.
Findlay College Prep point guard Cory Joseph’s mother Connie is flying in from the Toronto area, and she and Pilots coach Mike Peck will help Cory whittle his list of prospective college programs.
That is currently 18 or 20 deep. He will be able to take as many as five official visits. The early-signing period is in November, and many elite recruits opt for that window so they can focus on their senior seasons.
But the 6-foot-3, 180-pound floor general said he has no timetable. He could make a verbal commitment next week, without taking any official visits, if he is so moved, or it could come sometime in April.
“Whenever it feels right to me,” Joseph said. “When I feel like I want to commit, that’s when I’ll commit. Might be early. Might be late. Whenever it feels like I’m ready.”
Sponsored by former UNLV center and prominent booster Cliff Findlay, the Pilots, in their third season, won the inaugural ESPN National High School Invitational championship last spring.
They capped a 33-0 campaign by belting the vaunted Oak Hill Academy in the title game. Joseph averaged 10.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals last season. He shot 50.4 percent beyond the 3-point line.
The recruiting service Rivals.com ranks Joseph seventh in his class and among the top three senior point guards in the country.
During last season, Joseph said he made unofficial visits to California, Louisville and Ohio State. During the summer, he took unofficials to Connecticut, Marquette, Minnesota and Villanova.
Rivals.com also lists Arizona, Florida, Georgetown, Memphis, Texas, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech among his suitors.
Joseph said he attended a UNLV game last season, and he has visited the Rebels coaches and players on campus at least a few times.
From left, Brice Massamba, Jacques Streeter and Carlos Lopez joke around after beating Summit Prep on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008.
Former Findlay players Brice Massamba and Carlos Lopez play for UNLV, so a connection is developing between the Rebels and the prominent national program in the Henderson foothills.
“Yeah, UNLV is definitely in my mix,” Joseph said. “I know a lot of people here in Las Vegas and get support from a lot of people. I try to give back to them as much as I can, even if it’s talking to people in the community.
“I have great friendships here. Las Vegas is like a second home. And I think Lon Kruger is a great coach. He’s a nice guy to talk with. I’ve talked with him a couple times. He’s a very good coach.”
Joseph plans to gauge each situation by the potential relationship he will have with a coach and the style that team plays.
Findlay might have a bit of an advantage, since coach Mike Peck’s system – hounding defense, up-tempo offense – mirrors Kruger’s.
“And academics,” Joseph said. “You never know. You always have to have a second option. I also want to see who’s coming in and who’s going out. Obviously, you don’t want to go where there are a lot of guys at your position.
“That’s what I’m looking for.”
Minnesota might have an edge because older brother Devoe, a sophomore guard, is a Golden Gopher.
“Everyone would want to play with your brother, ever since you were little kids,” Cory Joseph said. “But I’m open to many schools. I want to see what the best fit is for me.”
He met Kansas coach Bill Self and assistant coach Danny Manning when the Jayhawks tried getting Devoe out of Pickering High in the Toronto area.
“Bill Self is a great coach, and I’ve talked to Danny Manning,” Joseph said. “He’s a great guy. I’ve seen them before and they’re good people.”
At Louisville, coach Rick Pitino has been dealing with his own very public drama, which includes extortion and other allegations, over the past few months.
“Well, everybody has their ups and downs,” Joseph said. “Everybody goes through hard stuff. Programs have downfalls and upfalls. Basically, you have to stick with it, play hard and play ball.”
Joseph admitted that his big decision occasionally weighs on him.
“A little bit, yeah,” he said. “But I’ll keep asking questions, trying to know as much about the programs as I can. I’ll expand on my knowledge and go from there.”
He doesn’t know where he’ll wind up, but he’s already astounded by where the game has taken him.
He’s a defending national prep champion, and he played in junior national tournaments in New Zealand and France over the summer.
“I just knew I’d love basketball,” Joseph said. “I knew I’d keep working hard, but I never thought it would take me to these places. It’s unbelievable. I know I’ll keep working hard and keep getting after it.”
Discussion: 14 comments so far…
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You know you wanna be a REBEL, Cory. You know you wanna be the one that leads UNLV back to the national championship game and becomes a legend in this city of lights. Do it, because nothing could compare to how big it would be in this town when the Rebels return to where they belong, the Final Four.
not in a million years....
This young man seems to have his head on really straight. It will be interesting to see if he respects the fact that playing at UNLV and for Kruger could do so much for him in the long run - for his basketball career and for life. It's going to take a very strong and secure young man (with a family that gets it) to be a Top 10 prospect to go to UNLV and propel them near the top. As Lenny says, if that does happen, that player will be celebrated like no other in this town. However, it will take a special young man off the court to understand that. Here's hoping Cory might be that young man.
Cory said, "Yeah, UNLV is definitely in my mix"
Translation: Hell no!!!
but, we Rebels fans can hope, can't we?
We'll have a small chance of landing Joseph if we can put together a great year.
-Get ranked
-Get to the dance
-Win some games
That is the recipe for having a shot at players like Joseph. That is what UNLV will have to accomplish with all these new players in order to be in the mix.
After last year, I'm not holding my breath.
It would also help our chances if maybe one of the Findlay Prep players on the team averaged more than 2 pts and 1 rebound.
I will enjoy watching Joseph this year in Vegas. Findlay Prep games were more fun to watch than most of the UNLV games last year (especially our conference games).
I'll wish him well and root for Joseph at whatever school he chooses. Doubt it's UNLV.
@ true-fan
Even if we have a ranked season and win some games in the tournament he would have already signed with someone by then. As much as it pains me to say this, last years season probably sealed the coffin for Cory.
Last years season did not seal the coffin. He is being recruited by everyone. Let him choose where he wants to go. If he becomes a Rebel cool if not thats fine too. Lets talk about incoming players and this years team...
I would love for CJ to be a Rebel but I just don't see it happening. There is way too much competition at the PG spot for CJ to seriously consider UNLV. Players of his caliber are starting from the moment they land on campus, & I can guarantee you he isn't going to sit behind DJ & Bellfield for 2 years to wait for playing time. CJ is a one and done, dont forget his best friend Avery Bradley plays for Texas, what a guard combo that would be for the Longhorns if Bradley is still there in another year.
Cory:
Go to Kansas.
They're the favorites to win the National Championship this year and the preseason number one team in the land. You can replace outgoing senior point guard, and likely 1st round draft pick, Sherron Collins. You can even team up with fellow local product, Elijah Johnson.
Bill Self and former number one draft pick, Danny Manning, are the best in the business. KU is currently completing major renovations to Allen Fieldhouse and Jayhawk Towers, where you'd be living, to further solidify KU as the number one college basketball program.
Heck, KU's first coach INVENTED basketball. That's right, James Naismith.
Kansas is the mecca of college basketball.
Cory: It's time to make your pilgrimage. Come home to Kansas
Nice speech....I think he's ready to sign now.
It was so impressive that hell, Kansas should consider hiring a phenom recruiter such as yourself. Oh wait, your just another run of the mill fan......
Haha! Yeah, you're on it FastCamron! Quintrell Thomas might have a thing or two to add to hawkarma's recruiting rant - ya think? CJ will choose the "when and where" and I will be happy for him whatever the outcome. As for the Rebels, we'll be just fine. We need to stay focused and take care of business this year with the talent that we have AND make a deep run into the NCAA Tournament. That way, if CJ chooses a school other than UNLV, he will certainly feel the pain. No disrespect, CJ, just a little something to think about.
Hey, hawkarma, you have any connections there in/at Kansas? We would really like a home-and-home with the Jayhawks. Kansas State stepped up to the plate so let's get it done with the 'hawks.
reagan21:
"Even if we have a ranked season and win some games in the tournament he would have already signed with someone by then."
That's assuming he signs early in November.
Did Joseph not state:
"When I feel like I want to commit, that's when I'll commit. Might be early. Might be late. Whenever it feels like I'm ready."
For recruits entering school for the 2010-11 academic year, the regular signing period is April 14, 2010 through May 19, 2010.
Just to correct your correction.
I love my fellow Rebel fans but some of you guys are killing me with your negativity. If the coaches listened to you, they might as well pack their bags and go home. There's no point even trying, it's not like they're ever gonna win anything or recruit any studs. Is that how it is?
I don't want to ruffle any feathers here but my take on Joseph is much different. Yes, he's an incredible talent but don't you think we'd be better served adding depth to the forward or center positions?
We have a host of excellent guards in Jasper, Bellfield, Marshall, Hawkins and Willis. Adding Joseph to the mix is going to limit other's minutes and it might send someone packing for greener pastures. This, I think hurts recruiting.
We can go a long way with the guards we have. I'd much rather go after that beast (name eludes me now) Findlay Prep scored from Turkey. That addition would give us a Final Four caliber line-up. You'd see defense like we haven't seen in 20 years.