Smith being patient on potential big-name recruit

Tubby Smith would like to add Cory Joseph, Devoe's little brother.

By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune

Last update: November 10, 2009 - 10:49 PM

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Unlike past years, Gophers men's basketball coach Tubby Smith doesn't have a nationally ranked recruiting class to unveil today, the first day that seniors can sign a national letter of intent.

But Cory Joseph, the younger brother of Gophers sophomore combo guard Devoe Joseph, is a talented point guard and top-10 recruit who has the Gophers on his list of finalists.

The Findlay (Las Vegas) Prep star recently visited Minnesota, but he hasn't announced whether he'll commit during the early signing period for recruits, which ends Nov. 18. Last week, he said family ties don't necessarily give the Gophers an advantage over UConn, Villanova or Texas, some of the other schools he's considering.

"Everybody wants to play with their brother, but I still [need to] make a decision ... 100 percent for me," he said.

Joseph sent a text message to the Star Tribune to say he still hasn't made up his mind on when he'll sign or what school he'll pick.

"No decision yet," he said.

Adding Joseph would give Smith the top-rated recruit of his three-year tenure at Minnesota.

Today, the Gophers are expected to sign Elliott Eliason, a 7-foot, 240-pound center from Chadron, Neb., who carries a 3.75 GPA, and Austin Hollins, a 6-4, 180-pound shooting guard from Germantown, Tenn., with a 4.0 GPA. Both Eliason and Hollins are listed as three-star prospects on scout.com.

Eliason led Chadron to the C-1 state title game last season. He averaged 14.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.8 blocks.

Hollins, the son of Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, averaged 16.0 points per game as a junior at Germantown. He helped his school get to the state quarterfinals.

Five-for-five

The Gophers women's basketball team will lose five seniors off this year's team -- starters Ashley Ellis-Milan, Katie Ohm and Brittany McCoy, plus reserves Zoe Harper and Tanisha Smith. The program has received five verbal commitments, with Sari Noga, a guard from Parkers Prairie, the only in-state player expected to sign today.

The Gophers also are expecting to sign center/forward Micaella Riche of Gloucester (Ontario) Louis Riel, forwards Shonte Clay of Chicago Von Steuben and Kionna Kellogg of Ames, Iowa, and guard Janelle Cannon of Wheeling, Ill.

None of the recruits is ranked among the nation's top 100 by ESPN's Hoopgurlz.

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