Joseph and Ashaolu testing NBA waters

Written by Ryan Wolstat

Brampton’s Tristan Thompson, of the Texas Longhorns is expected to announce his decision to sign with an agent and enter the 2011 NBA draft.
But that’s not all, the Sun has learned his longtime teammate, Cory Joseph of Pickering and their Grassroots Canada AAU teammate Olu Ashaolu of Toronto and Louisiana Tech. will also declare, barring a last-minute change of heart, though they will do so without an agent, leaving the door open to an NCAA return. Thompson is considered a potential lottery pick while Joseph and Ashaolu are likely second round selections at best.
Thompson’s decision is not a surprise, once elite forwards like Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones III and Harrison Barnes opted to stay in school, his stock shot up in the depleted draft.

Ashaolu, though raw, was a double-double machine and has NBA-caliber athleticism. Ashaolu averaged 14.2 points and 9.4 rebounds at Louisiana Tech. as a junior. The year before he averaged 10.7 points and 8.1 rebounds.
He posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double against Thompson (who had 17 seven) in the season opener and had 16 double-doubles on the season.
Joseph’s decision is perhaps the most shocking, scouts have said he needs more time to develop and it is still not clear what position he would play in the NBA, but those close to him have obviously heard good things from at one team. Joseph averaged 10.4 points, 3 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game, shooting 41% from three.