Cory Joseph puts on a show, leads Findlay Prep to tourney title

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010 | 6:22 p.m.

The only thing Findlay Prep senior guard Cory Joseph didn't do Sunday against visiting National College Prep was work the concession stand.

Joseph had 26 points and 16 rebounds in leading Findlay to a 91-70 victory in the championship game of the Hampton Inn & Suites Invitational.

Joseph's performance showed exactly why he is rated as the nation's No. 30 prospect by ESPN. The service also lists him as the sixth-rated point guard.

Joseph is picking between five schools — Connecticut, Minnesota (where his brother, Devoe, plays), Texas, Villanova and UNLV — and said he isn't any closer to a decision than he was five weeks ago when he trimmed his list to five.

UNLV coach Lon Kruger was in the bleachers for Sunday's game and watched the prized recruit put on a show.

Findlay trailed 28-27 with 3:54 to play in the first half before Joseph scored eight consecutive points and the Pilots closed the half on a 15-6 run. They never trailed again.

Joseph and teammate Nick Johnson shared tournament Most Valuable Player honors, but it was clearly Joseph who led the way in the title game.

"What else can he do for us?" Findlay coach Mike Peck said.

Joseph entered averaging 17.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. He easily added to those figures in helping Findlay win for the 51st time in 52 games.

"I try to do what my teammates need for us to win," Joseph said. "One night, that is scoring. The other, it might be distributing the ball."

National College Prep was much improved from the beginning of the season when Findlay defeated it, 137-95, on Nov. 11. Coach Bill Hankins said his team was in better shape for the second meeting, but ultimately didn't have any answers for a deep Findlay squad.

"Those (Findlay) kids are just so disciplined," Hankins said. "They all know their roles and where to be on the court. They are better basketball players than athletes."

National College Prep connected on 6 of its 13 3-pointers in the first half to keep things interesting.

"That is a really good team," Peck said. "They are in really good shape and they can run the court."

Johnson added 13 points for Findlay, and Texas commit Tristan Thompson had 18.

Other members of the all-tournament team included Thompson and guard Jabari Brown, who had a game-high 28 points in the Pilots' win Saturday night. Monzaigo Williams and Stephan Hicks from National College Prep also made the team.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected].