Thompson to Texas; Joseph to visit UNLV?

By Rob Miech

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009 | 5:36 p.m.

While another teammate signed with Texas today, Findlay College Prep point guard Cory Joseph could be leaning toward taking his final official visit to UNLV.

Joseph, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound floor general who led the Pilots to the ESPN National High School Invitational championship last season, is a top-10 national prospect.

He has made official visits to Texas, Connecticut, Villanova and Minnesota. Last weekend he returned home, to the Toronto area, to discuss his plans with his mother.

Florida and Mississippi State have also been in the running, with UNLV, for Joseph’s fifth official visit. Prep prospects are allowed to make five official trips to college campuses.

“I think he might be leaning toward making it local,” Findlay coach Mike Peck said, referring to UNLV. “That’s a strong possibility.”

Peck reiterated that neither Joseph nor Godwin Okonji, a senior power forward from Nigeria, will make a decision during the early-signing period, which began today.

Tristan Thompson, on the other hand, signed his commitment papers to Texas today. He had given Longhorns coach Rick Barnes a verbal commitment in March.

Avery Bradley, who helped steer Findlay to the national title in April, is in line to start for Texas when it opens its season Sunday against UC-Irvine.

In addition, Newark (N.J.) St. Benedict junior point guard Myck Kabongo, a longtime friend of Thompson and Joseph who hails from the Toronto area, had made a verbal commitment to Barnes.

Joseph’s brother, Devoe, plays at Minnesota.

Okonji has visited New Mexico and Hawaii, and Utah might be somewhere on his radar.

Findlay, 33-0 last season, begins defending its national title against National College Prep at at 7 p.m. Friday at the Henderson International School, with which the Pilots are affiliated.