Toronto hoop prodigies seeking NBA glory

Toronto hoop prodigies seeking NBA glory

Cheerleaders at a Longhorns game (Image: Randall Chancellor)

Two basketball phenoms are ready to turn their hoop dreams into reality. A pair of former GTA high school stars—Brampton’s Tristan Thompson and Pickering’s Cory Joseph—announced Sunday that they’ll be leaving the University of Texas Longhorns, where they both played a single year of college ball, to enter the National Basketball Association draft on June 23.

Both players put forward successful freshmen campaigns in Texas, which is quickly becoming a hotbed of Toronto talent, with top GTA prospect Myck Kabongo also deciding to join the Longhorns earlier this year. According to ESPN.com basketball analyst Chad Ford, Thompson will likely be a top 10 pick on draft day. Joseph, however, is far from a sure thing (Ford pegged him at a middling number 46).

If, or in Thompson’s case, when, the players join the professional ranks, they’ll be adding their names to the shortlist of Toronto ballers that have made it to the show—which includes Jamal Magloire, Rick Fox and this guy.

Thompson, Joseph make NBA move official [Toronto Sun]
Canadians Thompson and Joseph stay in NBA draft [Globe and Mail]