But, the talented shooting guard plans to be more than a spectator to the Madness; he aches to be on the floor -- the sooner the better -- while wearing the gold uniform of the University of Golden Gophers.

The 18-year-old basketball star, who's earned props as one of the top U.S. college recruits to ever come out of a Canadian high school, hopes he can play a role in pushing the Gophers on to the grand stage that is March Madness as early as next season.

"That's something I'm hoping for, it's something I want to accomplish," says Joseph, set to enter his freshman campaign at the Minneapolis, Minn. institution of higher learning. "I want to be in the tournament every single year. It's one of the greatest basketball events in the world and one of the greatest sporting events in the world."

Canadians have played, and prospered, as part of the 64 teams that set out to cut down the nets following the national championship. This year is no exception as two Quebecers from Saint Lambert, near Montreal -- Max Paulhus Gosselin and William Archambault -- made their marks with tiny and unheralded Davidson College (North Carolina), pushing the Wildcats to the Elite Eight.

By any measure, Joseph is no ordinary, garden variety Canuck hoopster heading off to a U.S. college program.

Recently, Joseph was named to the world roster for the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon, where he and his teammates will play the top under-19 players in the U.S. on April 12.

Joseph was a mainstay with the national junior men's basketball team over the past two years and, this year, has earned a tryout with the senior national team, which is currently embroiled in qualifying for this summer's Beijing Olympics.

The 6-foot, 3-inch guard also put together an impeccable high school career at Pickering High School, capped by winning his second consecutive OFSAA title with the Trojans. With the ball in his hands in the waning seconds of the provincial final against the Eastern Commerce Saints of Toronto, Joseph hit a buzzer beater to allow Pickering High to repeat as 'AAAA' Ontario champs.

He's entering a U. of Minnesota program that's clearly on the upswing, in no small part due to legendary head coach Tubby Smith. Smith guided his former team, the University of Kentucky Wildcats, to the Big Dance on a yearly basis, winning a national title in 1998.

So, with the addition of Joseph, part of a U. of Minnesota recruiting class that's touted as one of the best in the U.S., can a March Madness berth be far behind for the Golden Gophers and Joseph?

For the record, Joseph's picking the University of Memphis Tigers to win the national title.

"I like their style of play, and I like (freshman point guard) Derrick Rose. I'd like them to win it," he predicts.

Al Rivett's column appears every three weeks. E-mail him at arivett@durhamregion.com