Knights’ Foster rising among big men
Updated: May 26, 2011 7:08PM
Success in high school basketball is often driven by guard play, but having a serviceable big man also can be a key to winning.
Of course, in recruiting circles, emerging forwards and centers are always among the focal points. And nobody in the spring is emerging as rapidly among big men as Lincoln-Way Central forward Brad Foster.
The 6-foot-8 Foster has come on strong playing with the Illinois Warriors of the AAU, and he’s showing that he’s a legitimate Division I prospect.
“(Brad’s) strength is scoring around the basket, and he’s also a surprising athlete,” Illinois Warriors coach Larry Butler said. “He’s had some guys defend him, and I think he’s surprised them a bit with his athleticism. If he has a decent summer, his recruiting is really going to pick up.”
Basketball appears to be in Foster’s future in college, and he said playing volleyball during the high school season helped him on the basketball court.
“I play with the high school (volleyball) team, and I think it helps in some ways,” Foster said. “You get used to jumping a lot and getting some things down like timing.”
Already schools are starting to take notice. Stanford, Northwestern, Loyola, UIC, Lafayette, Illinois State, Northern Iowa and Drake have inquired about Foster.
Recruiting analyst Joe Henricksen also has taken notice of Foster’s play this spring.
“As a prospect and player, Foster is one of the best-kept secrets in the Chicago area,” Henricksen said. “He will be a heavily watched player this summer and in July by college coaches at all levels due to the fact he has nice size at 6-8, (is) coordinated, gets up and down the floor well and is a better athlete than people give him credit for.
“He still needs to get stronger around the basket, but if he can continue to add range and consistency on that jumper, combined with his physical attributes, Foster will be able to take his game to another level and be that highly coveted mid-major prospect.”
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