You Don't Know 'Em But You Better Start To: Part 4

We jump back into my top 5 sleepers to keep an eye on for the next two years with a player I have previously blogged about. During his sophomore campaign, this player was gaining momentum as one of the top players in the class of 2013. Outside of Jabari Parker and Thomas Hamilton, Jr, this player seemed to legitimately be one of the top players in Illinois for his class. Unfortunately, as the season wore on, this player began to fade to the back drop as the seniors on the team began to take over and his role diminished as a prolific scorer.His name began to fade and now its very seldom seen that this player is even in the top 5 in his class today. This player fell off the recruiting profile faster than one of Lindsy Lohan's drunk driving binges. But all is not lost; he is only going to be a junior which means he has two summers and basically one and a half school years to impress scouts.Isn't he lucky I saw him as a sophomore.....


Jr. PF Alex Foster (6-8, 200 lbs, considering Purdue, DePaul, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana)- Then, as a sophomore, his build stands out more than anything else. Foster looks close to college ready. To think he's got another two years to condition and get in better shape should only make him more dangerous. It would almost be like sticking a rocket up Usian Bolt's ass before the 100 meter dash. However, Foster is still raw and has not quite figured out to maximize his size just yet. Alex is kind of gangly moving up and down the court and does not go straight up around the glass or when he goes up for a shot. It is almost like his body is going faster than he wants to go. But this kid is very athletic. He has quick feet and can get off the ground quick for a rebound or a dunk. Some players look like they are trying to jump out of quick sand when they go up for a rebound. Others, like Foster, seem like they're taking off by a trampoline. Foster also a soft touch around the rim and can maneuver around defenders for a nifty lay up or even a dunk. He runs the floor very well and not just three point line to three point line but from baseline to baseline as he is not afraid to play both down low and around perimeter. Good conditioning and weight training should make him quicker and more effective running the floor which will be a big attribute in the future.

For high school, Foster could take over games because there are not that many athletic 6-8 guys to go up against. With good floor awareness, Foster is an ideal candidate to make something out of nothing when the defense breaks down. Due to his leaping ability, Foster can rebound over most defenders. From the defense rebound, Foster makes crisp and accurate outlet passes for an offense in transition. Where Foster can get lost is leaving his man for a rebound and in some cases, seemed to loose his defender but was able to make up for it with his athleticism either being quicker or just using his length to get back in position. He will not get away with this at the next level.

One area of concern for Foster is his jump shot. In the two games I saw Foster, his jump shot was a weak part of his game. It seemed like he only shot the ball from distance when he was forced to. He definitely needs to spend more time in the gym improving his shot. If he can do this over the next two years, he will be a legitimate power forward in college who can make things happen down low and step out and hit a consistent shot. One thing that does not work in his favor is his funky shooting motion. Some shooting strokes look good but the ball doesn't seem to go in. For other wacky shooting forms, there is not much to coach. Look at Shawn Marion of the Dallas Maverick (also a Chicago native); one of the worst shooting forms in the pros yet has an ability to put the ball in the hoop. It is possible to shoot the basketball like your playing catch with an active bee hive, but if you're not a natural scorer, it is tough to fix your form to be a consistent mid range shooter. The one thing separating Foster from a legitimate 4 star prospect and potential 4 years starter in college to an athletic mid major player is his shot. Foster's shot has improved from his freshman to sophomore year. He is going to need a bigger jump from his sophomore year to his junior.

All in all, Foster can play. Most likely, Alex will be coming to a Big Ten arena near you. The difference in being a sloth at the end of the bench collecting free gear from Nike or Adidas and an impact player will be his ability to force defenses to respect his jump shot. Right now, he's an above average rebounder with above average athleticism. Time in the gym shooting and pumping iron will do nothing but help his status as a prospect. Five years down the road, we will be saying of Foster how he brought a unique style of size and athleticism to become a great college player, or we will say, "Who? Oh that guy; he was really athletic, I thought he was going to be good. I wonder what happened to him?" My money is on Foster making an impact on whatever school he ends up at.

NEXT WEEK: YOU DON'T KNOW 'EM BUT YOU BETTER START TO: PART 5