Back home in Toronto with his mother, Cory Joseph finally made a decision.
The 6-foot-3, 170-pound point guard out of Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep chose Texas over UConn, Villanova, Minnesota and UNLV.
“Yeah, I did,” he said by phone from Toronto. “Coach [Rick] Barnes and the staff, we have a good relationship. The style of play, they go up and down. I really feel like it can excel my game to the next level there. It was the best fit for me.”
Joseph is the No. 3 point guard in the Class of 2010 and No. 7 overall player, according to Rivals.
Joseph averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in leading Findlay Prep to the second of back-to-back National High School Invitational titles.
In choosing Texas, Joseph will join Findlay teammate and fellow Canadian Tristan Thompson, a 6-9 forward who signed with the Longhorns in November.
Myck Kabongo, a 6-2 junior point guard out of St. Benedict’s Prep, has also verbally committed to Texas. All three players compete for Ro Russell’s Grassroots Canada club.
“It was not the deciding factor,” Joseph said of his fellow Canadians committing to Texas. “I had to go where I feel most comfortable at and where I feel I could excel my game to the next level at and I just felt I could do that at Texas.”
Joseph’s older brother, Devoe, plays for Minnesota and another Canadian, 6-10 forward Maurice Walker, has committed there for next year.
“They didn’t try to force me to go anywhere because everybody would like to play with their brother and with their friends,” Joseph said. “But at the same time, you have to go where’s best for you.”
Joseph leaves two Big East programs in the lurch with this decision. UConn struck out on all the elite guards in the Class of 2010, missing out on Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb, Josh Selby and now Joseph.
Villanova was seeking a point guard to follow the graduating Scottie Reynolds and the freshman Maalik Wayns.
“There’s no seconds or thirds or fourths or fifths,” Joseph said. “The five schools were great schools. It was a very hard decision. They all have great coaches. I got to talk to the coaches, and I just felt where I could fit best was Texas.”
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