City of Basketball Love

Teddy Bailey (@TheTeddyBailey)
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Throughout his time at Ridley High School, senior point guard Brett Foster has grown accustomed to winning basketball games. In his time donning the green and white, the 5-foot-11 guard has a 63-28 career record, including the Green Raiders’ 9-0 start to his senior season.

In three full seasons, Foster has led his school to a pair of PIAA Class AAAA State Tournament appearances, three District 1 Class AAAA Tournament appearances, and one appearance in the District 1 semifinals.

He’s used to winning.

On Thursday, Foster committed to one of the winningest local programs in Division II, as the 1,000-point scorer pledged to play at East Stroudsburg next season.

“I wanted to go to a winning program,” Foster said. “I didn’t want to go somewhere and lose. They’re one of the top teams in the PSAC and I was really pleased with the way they perform and compete. I wanted to go to a place where I have a chance to play and win.”

East Stroudsburg also has a recent string of success in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Warriors have qualified for the Division-II NCAA Tournament in two of the past three seasons; ESU went 30-2 (15-1 PSAC) in 2013-2014, claiming the PSAC Tournament title and reaching the NCAA Tournament Regional Final.

The Warriors are off to a 9-3 (5-3 PSAC) start this season with crucial conference tests at Slippery Rock and West Chester upcoming. East Stroudsburg will return three starters of this year’s team when Foster arrives on campus.

“I visited the school and really liked the coaching staff,” Foster said. “I loved how they ran the offense, it’s an up-and-down kind of team. I thought they were the school that was recruiting me the hardest. They texted me almost every day, they showed me a lot of attention. I really enjoyed my visit, how it was laid back and that it wasn’t that far away.”

There’s a sense of familiarity for Foster with East Stroudsburg’s players. Freshman guards Nick Giordano (5.7 ppg) and Najee Wells (8.3 ppg as a starter) both faced off against Foster in high school; Giordano battled Ridley in the Central League multiple times, while Wells and La Salle ousted the Green Raiders in the first round of the state tournament last season.

“I knew Nick from the Central League,” Foster said. “I knew him personally too, I saw him a few times over the summer, so that was cool. It was unexpected, you can’t predict the future like that. He’s a great player so I’m excited. For the most part, those were the only two people that I knew on the team.”

Foster, who ultimately chose East Stroudsburg over PSAC rival West Chester, is expected to play point guard for the Warriors next season. At 5-foot-11, Foster’s game is heavily dependent on creating his own shot with a quick dribble-drive to the basket. As a junior, he averaged 16.3 points per game en route to being named the Central League’s MVP as Ridley won its first league title since 2007-2008.

“I definitely need to get stronger and in better shape,” Foster said. “You can always get in better shape, I need to work on my mid-range shot. I don’t really have to use it right now, but in college there will be bigger guys down there.”

The Green Raiders are off to a 9-0 (5-0 CAL) start as Foster is leading the Central League in scoring with 19.8 points per game alongside Julian Wing (14.6 ppg) and Ryan Bollinger (9.7 ppg), among others. The defending league champions have dates with Giordano’s former team, Marple Newtown, and perennial contender Lower Merion this week.

“We want to win the league,” Foster said. “We already knew that we would be at this point, we’re going to keep playing the same play. We’re going to go further than last year, that’s the plan. No team can beat us but ourselves.”

Now that Foster’s commitment is out of the way, the speedy point guard can go back to winning games for his team.

“I’m extremely happy,” he said. “I don’t have to get anymore calls, I’m thankful for everyone that recruited me but it’s just a good thing to get off your chest. I can just focus on my teammates, and my team. I’m just ready to lead us as far as I can.”