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Latest, Recruiting

Texas Style

Published by Gilbert Muako on April 27, 2010

For months, many have been wondering where top recruited guard Cory Joseph would end up. Whenever asked about a time frame for a decision, Joseph would simply reply, “When the time’s right.”

Well, Friday April 23 was the right time, as one of the most talented players to come out of Canada gave his pledge to play basketball for the University of Texas Longhorns.

The heavily recruited guard chose Texas over Connecticut, UNLV, Villanova and even Minnesota, the school where his older brother, Devoe Joesph, plays, and also recently recruited his childhood friend, Maurice Walker.

Head coach Rick Barnes and the Longhorns had already landed forward Tristan Thompson, who happens to be Joseph’s teammate at Findlay Prep and Grassroots Canada.

How much of a factor did Thompson committing there play?

Not much.

“He was still going to do what’s best for him,” says Joseph’s Grassroots Canada coach Ro Russell. “Now that he’s deciding that Texas is the best place for him he is looking forward to playing with Tristan [Thompson] who he has known and played with for many years.”

There were also heavy discussions of Joseph joining his older brother at Minnesota.

“Even though he would’ve loved to play with his brother, Devoe Joseph, he had to look at the overall factors and choose Texas,” Russell said. “The number one thing was during the recruiting process he kind of clicked with the [Texas] coaching staff the most.

“On his visit he felt the most comfortable with the players at Texas and he liked their style of play the best. The up tempo style of play, the freedom the guards get and the emphasis on defense.”

A chance to step in and play big minutes was also a determining factor for the former Findlay Prep star.

“They’re [Texas] losing their senior point guard Justin Mason, and that leaves them with no point guard for next year, so he has a great opportunity to come in right away and be an immediate impact,” Russell said.

With the commitment to Texas, Joseph closes the book on his remarkable high school career. The amount of success he was able garner shows how much of a winner the new Longhorn is.

An OBA champion, back-to-back OFSAA titles, back-to-back American high school championships, as well as selections to the MacDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand All-American Game, Hoop Summit All-World Team, and Boost Mobile Elite 24 are just some of the highlights of his decorated career.

“It hasn’t been easy to accomplish what Cory has accomplished in his high school career,” Russell said. “His family support and involvement has been the biggest reason for his success thus far.”

Joseph will look to continue his legacy at a program that has consistently produced stars at the guard position.

“Over the years Texas has produced point guards like T.J. Ford, Daniel Gibson, Royal Ivey, D.J. Augustine, A.J. Abrams, and now Avery Bradley,” Russell said. “Cory has an opportunity to follow in their footsteps and make a major impact in college and move on relatively quickly to the next level.”

CROWN