Bryan Foster is a fascinating young man. At 6’3” and 205 pounds, he would make a good wide receiver. Or shooting guard. He might be a little larger than the average high school second baseman, but with his athleticism, he could contribute just about anywhere on the field, if needed.
As it turns out, Foster is more than just good at any of those positions. He’s excellent. At all three.
As of In the Game’s press time, the Pacelli Vikings football team is 7-2 and coming off a 28-12 win over Schley County. Foster scored a touchdown in the contest, his sixth of the year. After not making the playoffs since 2007, the Vikings are enjoying a fantastic season. In four years, the Vikings have gone from an 0-10 squad to a playoff-caliber team. “We just worked harder this year. We know we can compete with everyone we play,” says Foster. Through the first six games of the year, Foster had 37 catches for 450 yards.
Foster doesn’t want the football season to end. He isn’t ready to hang up his helmet and shoulder pads. It’s been a while since the Vikings have done much on the football field and he would like to be a part of a strong run through the postseason, the kind of run that can transform a program and turn things around for years to come.
There is something else that has his attention. It’s not a distraction. But it’s there, tugging ever-so-slightly each time he laces up his cleats and heads out to football practice. The basketball team is in the gym, practicing each day for the quickly approaching 2013-2014 season. The Vikings haven’t made the playoffs in basketball since Foster has been at Pacelli. And he would like to see that streak come to an end as well. “I love football. But I’m ready to play some basketball,” he laughs.
Foster can’t practice with his basketball teammates until football season ends. In the meantime, he’s going out every day after football practice, shooting and running a bit so when he is finally turned loose on the hardwood, it won’t take as long to catch up. “There are breaks in football. You aren’t always running. But in basketball, there are no breaks. You are constantly on the move. It takes a while to get my wind back,” he says.
A multidimensional player who can play any position on the court, Foster spends most of his time at shooting guard. He can shoot the three but he’s also good inside. On defense, he plays the post, banging with the big guys down low. Foster’s career highlights include a 32-point game against Beulah High School last year – more than twice his 15 points per game average. He found himself in foul trouble during the game so he says he started shooting more. Those extra shots went in and he ended up with a career night. “I just looked for my shot more often. And they started falling,” he says.
One of the keys to a successful future is keeping your options open, and Foster certainly has options. He’s an All-Region selection in football, basketball and baseball, and wouldn’t mind playing all three in college. No one has come to the table for baseball but he has offers from in-state schools for football and basketball. Mercer wants him for both sports. Valdosta State University is recruiting him for basketball. And West Georgia wants him to play football.
“If I had to choose just one sport, I don’t know which one it would be,” he says.
His uncle, Tay Cody, played at Florida State University and in the NFL and Canadian Football League. Cody, now an assistant coach at Calhoun County, has told his nephew not to make a decision too quickly. “He says for me to keep my options open. He thinks football is looking good for me now. He says I have the size and speed. We’ll just see how it all plays out,” says Foster.
Bryan Foster loves baseball. He really, really loves baseball. A second baseman who hits in the middle of the order, Foster was an All-Region honorable mention last season. He didn’t hit a home run but he finished with 17 stolen bases. “I’m a line drive, doubles kind of hitter. My main goal is just to get on base,” he says. Foster hasn’t received any baseball offers yet but he’s still trying to generate some interest. He has been to several camps, most recently a showcase in Marietta in November. “I’d love to play football, basketball and baseball in some combination in college,” he says.
Favorites:
• NBA team: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Player: Kyrie Irving
• Person to meet: LeBron James
• Subject: Math
• Least Favorite: Science
• Superpower: Speed
• Pepsi or Coke: Coke
• Best movie in the last year: He Got Game
Player Spotlight/Columbus Valley/December 2013
Bryan Foster
Pacelli High School
Columbus, Georgia
Robert Preston Jr.
Pacelli senior has college interest in three different sports
