2018 G Josh Cornish on transferring to Dulaney, expectations, and new interests
As we hit the mid way point of the summer, the AAU circuit is soon to come to a close and preparation for the high school season will begin. For 2018 guard Josh Cornish, his senior season will involve him sporting a new shade of red after it was announced that he would transfer from Calvert Hall to Dulaney.
Dulaney finished with an impressive 17-7 record last season before losing in the 4A regional semifinals to the eventual state champion Perry Hall. The semifinals have been a round that the Lions have no problem getting to, but haven’t been able to get past. With the addition of Cornish, it gives them a major weapon and boosts their chances in overcoming that obstacle. The 6’2 combo guard averaged 17 points per game for the Cardinals last season.
Cornish told PrepHoops that the basis behind his decision to transfer had mostly to do with academics. With a number of Patriot League schools interested in him, he wanted to be sure to have the highest GPA possible, and Dulaney’s academic system offers an opportunity for him to do so. Cornish still has a great relationship with his old teammates and the folks at Calvert Hall, but felt that making this move was the best for him in this crucial part of his life.
With that being said, Cornish is ready to get after it on the floor as well. His younger brother, Ike Cornish, is a freshman that will also be suiting up for the Lions. [Josh] Cornish is excited for the opportunity to play along Ike, who is regarded as a standout player in the class of 2021.
“It’s going to be extremely fun,” Cornish told PrepHoops. “I’m looking forward to it because we’ve always talked about the opportunity to play against each other would be crazy. I had no idea there was a chance we could play with each other. We train together everyday pretty much. I’ve never played with him in a competitive game. I can’t wait. The chemistry is already going to be there.”
Cornish’s little brother isn’t the only top young prospect that the Lions will feature this season. They already have 2020 forward Che Evans who led the team in scoring last season has a list of Division I offers that continues to grow. 2021 guard Ryan Conway will also be looking to make his mark for Dulaney in his freshman season. Conway chose Dulaney over DeMatha and is one of the top players in his class nationally.
Because of the youth, Cornish will leaned on heavily for not only his scoring ability, but also his leadership.
“I’m definitely looking forward to taking on the leadership role,” Cornish said. Coach [Matt] Lochte and I already talked about that. I’m going to have to teach them how to talk on the court. Young kids usually have a problem with communicating. I know they all can score on a high level, but defensively I want to get them to another level. At Calvert Hall I really learned how to talk on defense and on Team Melo I am depended to be the vocal guy on defense. Offensively, I’ve talked to Che and Ryan already about how we are going to play together. We aren’t going to focus on individuals, we’re going to focus on winning. That’s what it’s going to be about.”
Cornish is well aware of Dulaney’s struggles in the past when it comes to the state tournament. Perry Hall will return a tough trio of Laquill Hardnett, Anthony Higgs, and Tyler Holley, all of which were key pieces to their championship team last season. Cornish had the chance to play against them and came up on the losing side. With Dulaney, he thinks they pose a different threat to the Gators.
“They are an opposite team compared to us,” Cornish said. “They rely on bigs and Tyler plays like a small forward. For us, we’re more of guard play. I think if we can focus on rebounding against them, we’ll be able to get over that hump. I feel like our guard play is one of the best in the state right now, so it should be a great game when we face them.”
Cornish is the type of player that Dulaney has been missing. A guy who can get it done on and off the floor while doing what is best for the team in those regards. The Lions have sent a ton of players to the next level and they’ve succeeded. Coach Lochte is depending on Cornish to be next on that list and leave a lasting impression on the young guys for the coming years.
In terms of Cornish’s recruitment, he still holds one offer from Southern Utah. With his impressive showing in AAU and in HoopGroup sessions, New Orleans, Tennesee-Martin, Cal State-Northridge, Wagner, Niagra, FDU, and Loyola have all expressed interest in Cornish.