UNLV’s top 2010 targets Joseph, Polee have big showings ahead

By Ryan Greene

Saturday, March 27, 2010 | 2:15 a.m.

Both of UNLV's top remaining targets in the 2010 recruiting class — Findlay Prep guard Cory Joseph and Westchester (Calif.) High forward Dwayne Polee — are set to enjoy big moments in the spotlight as decision time nears.

Polee, who is also being courted by Pac-10 programs such as Oregon and Washington along with Georgia, will lead the 31-3 Comets into the Division I state title game tonight against Newark Memorial in Bakersfield, Calif.

That game can be seen in Las Vegas on Prime Ticket — Cox channel 50 — at 8 p.m. PDT.

The championship tilt comes just days after Polee was named the Los Angeles City Section Player of the Year — an honor voted upon by a local media panel. The 6-foot-7 wing is averaging 20 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game this season.

There's a good buzz going indicating that Polee could be ready to end his recruitment just after the conclusion of his prep career in the coming weeks.

Polee, whose father, Dwayne Sr., played at UNLV during the 1981-82 season, took an official visit to campus back in November, when he watched the Rebels knock off then-No. 16 Louisville, 76-71.

As for Joseph, who Rivals.com ranks as the No. 7 recruit in the 2010 class, not much has changed since his official visit to UNLV in mid-December.

"I have my five (finalists), and it's pretty late," he said on Thursday following a Pilots practice session. "I'm looking at my five. A couple of schools have tried to get in late. I look at them, not trying to disrespect them, but at the same time, I have my five set."

The list of Joseph's finalists have been set for a while, with UNLV, Villanova, Minnesota, Texas and UConn in the mix for his services.

One school of note which has made late attempts to get in the running for the Toronto native is Kentucky, as first-year coach John Calipari has made two recent trips to the Henderson campus to watch Joseph run.

Joseph said he hears everyone out, but said his five is, well, his five.

He said there's no timeline as to when he'll make a decision. Still, it's pretty much all he'll be asked about when surrounded by the national media next week in Columbus, Ohio, during his stay for the McDonald's All-American game.

Joseph leaves on Saturday along with Findlay teammate Tristan Thompson, as they were two of 24 seniors from around the country selected to play in next Wednesday's showcase at the Value City Arena. It can be seen on ESPN — Cox channel 30 — at 5 p.m. PDT.

From there, the duo will head to Baltimore and meet up with their teammates to go for a second consecutive championship in the ESPN Rise National High School Invitational.

In Columbus, though, Joseph will be one of seven players in attendance who is still undecided as to his destination for next fall.

Also in that boat will be C.J. Leslie, Josh Selby, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, Ray McCallum and Brandon Knight.

"There will be a lot of questions, and I'll just give them a truthful answers," Joseph said. "I know what to expect.

"It's OK, I just haven't made up my mind yet. If I could have made up my mind a long time ago, I would've and I think that would have been great, a lot of questions would have been answered."