Marcus Foster (basketball)

Marcus Franklee Foster (born June 3, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for Kansas State University and Creighton University before playing professionally in South Korea, Lebanon and Israel.

Marcus Foster
No. 17 – Panathinaikos
PositionShooting guard
LeagueGreek Basket League
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1995-06-03) June 3, 1995
Wichita Falls, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolHirschi (Wichita Falls, Texas)
College
NBA draft2018 / Undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2019Wonju DB Promy
2019Champville SC
2019–2020Hapoel Holon
2020–presentPanathinaikos
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school career

Foster is the son of Melvin and Alvita Foster. Foster has two older sisters. Growing up in Wichita Falls, Texas, Marcus Foster began playing basketball at a young age and developed a reputation as a gymrat. He competed for Hirschi High School and was a well-regarded recruit for Kansas State.[1]

College career

Kansas State

Foster was a surprise star at Kansas State, scoring 25 points in his second game in uniform. In a game against Texas in February, he contributed 34 points. Foster had 29 in a matchup versus Baylor in March. He was named Second Team All-Big 12 and led Kansas State to a nine seed in the NCAA Tournament.[1] On the season, Foster averaged 15.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, and he shot 40 percent from behind the 3-point arc.[2] He went to the LeBron James Skill Academy in the summer.[1]

In his sophomore year, Foster was named to the Preseason First Team All-Big 12.[3] However, Foster had a very disappointing season, which he blamed on focusing too much on the NBA. He gained weight and was suspended three games into the conference season.[1] Foster's per game averages dropped to 12.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.[2] Kansas State limped to a 15-17 record, and at the end of the season coach Bruce Weber dismissed him. Foster transferred to Creighton since he had developed a relationship with coach Greg McDermott.[4]

Creighton

Per NCAA policy, Foster was forced to sit out a season. Coming into his redshirt junior season, Foster was named Preseason Big East Honorable Mention.[5] He was the first player in 30 years to score 15 or more points in the first eight games of Creighton's season.[6] On February 19, 2017, Foster scored a career-high 35 points in an 87-70 win against Georgetown.[7] At the conclusion of the season, he garnered First Team All-Big East honors.[8] He was named one of five finalists for the Jerry West Award. Foster scored 638 points as a junior, the highest for a Creighton newcomer, for an 18.2 points per game average, third highest in the Big East. After deliberating for a few days, he opted to return for his senior year.[9]

On September 29, 2017, Foster's girlfriend Chelsea Ghasemi gave birth to their first child.[1] Foster was named to the Preseason First Team All-Big East as a senior.[10] He had a season-high 32 points in a 90-81 win versus UT Arlington on December 19.[11] On February 7, 2018, Foster scored his 2,000th career point on a game-winning shot to defeat DePaul.[12] In his final college game, a loss to Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, he scored just five points but embraced Bruce Weber after the game.[13] Foster averaged 19.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as a senior.[14] Foster was named to the First Team All-Big East.[15] After the season he was invited to the 2018 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.[16]

Professional career

2018–19 season

After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, he joined the Sacramento Kings for the 2018 NBA Summer League.[17]

On August 2, 2018, Foster signed his professional contract with Wonju DB Promy of the Korean Basketball League (KBL).[18] On October 17, 2018, Foster recorded a career-high 47 points, shooting 16-of-27 from the field, along with nine rebounds, six assists and three steals in a 117–116 win over the Changwon LG Sakers.[19] In 51 games played for Wonju, he finished the season as the league fourth-leading scorer with 25.2 points, along with 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

On March 28, 2019, Foster signed with Champville SC of the Lebanese Basketball League for the rest of the season.[20]

2019–20 season

In June 2019, Foster joined the Orlando Magic for the 2019 NBA Summer League.[21]

On July 31, 2019, Foster signed with Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Premier League for the 2019–20 season.[22] On October 11, 2019, Foster recorded 20 points in his debut, while shooting 7-of-12 from the field, along with six rebounds and four assists in a 103–86 win over Maccabi Ashdod.[23] On November 9, 2019, Foster recorded a season-high 29 points, while shooting 6-of-9 from three-point range, leading Holon to a 92-73 win over Hapoel Be'er Sheva.[24] He averaged 17.8 points per game for Hapoel Holon.[25]

2020–21 season

On July 14, 2020, Foster signed a one-year deal with Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague, with the option for an additional season.[25]

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gollark: It's fine, they aren't a physical being.
gollark: You should look at GTech™ noncognitohazardous imagery instead.
gollark: Oh, you would want to use directed GTech™ orbital mind control lasers for that, much more efficient.
gollark: You could always use anticholinergic ones, for purposes.

References
  1. Forgrave, Reid (December 1, 2017). "How a dismissal, fatherhood and Creighton helped Marcus Foster reclaim his passion". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  2. Pivovar, Steven (April 9, 2015). "Kansas State transfer Marcus Foster picks Creighton". The Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  3. "KU Narrow Choice To Win Men's Basketball Title". Big 12 Conference. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  4. Robinett, Kellis (April 19, 2015). "Kansas State's Marcus Foster will transfer to Creighton, Wildcats add recruit". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  5. "Villanova's Hart Named Preseason Player of the Year". BigEast.com. Big East Conference. October 11, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  6. O'Neil, Dana (December 7, 2016). "A change of scenery has done wonders for Marcus Foster at Creighton". ESPN. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  7. "Foster's 35 points leads No. 20 Creighton in win over Hoyas". ESPN. Associated Press. February 19, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  8. "Thomas, Bridges, Hart Share Defensive Player of the Year Honors Cartwright Selected Most Improved Player Rowsey Takes Sixth Man Award Garrett Jr. Selected For Sportsmanship Honor". BigEast.com. March 6, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  9. Nyatawa, Jon (March 22, 2017). "Marcus Foster to return to Creighton next year; guard has desire to lead, accomplish more with Jays". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  10. "Villanova's Jalen Brunson Selected Preseason Player of the Year". BigEast.com. Big East Conference. October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  11. "Foster scores 32, No. 25 Creighton gets past UT Arlington". ESPN. Associated Press. December 19, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  12. Newberry, Andy (February 7, 2018). "Foster celebrates 2,000 points with game-winner". Times Record News. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  13. Wolken, Dan (March 16, 2018). "NCAA tournament: Evolution of Creighton's Marcus Foster comes full circle". USA Today. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  14. "Jays' Marcus Foster gets all-star game invite, receives AP All-America honorable mention". Omaha World-Herald. March 28, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  15. "Xavier's Bluiett, Villanova's Brunson, Butler's Martin Unanimously Named All-BIG EAST" (Press release). Big East Conference. March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  16. "Former Wyoming forward Hayden Dalton receives Portsmouth Invitational Tournament invite". Casper Star-Tribune. April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  17. "Marcus Foster to play for Sacramento Kings' Summer League team". Times Record News. June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  18. Newberry, Andy (August 2, 2018). "Marcus Foster going to play pro basketball in Korea /". Wichita Falls Times Record News. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  19. "Changwon LG Sakers 116 at Wonju Dongbu Promy 117". basket.co.il. October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  20. "Marcus Foster (ex DB Promy) agreed terms with Champville". Eurobasket.com. March 28, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  21. "Orlando Magic announce 2019 Summer League roster". OrlandoPinstripedPost.com. June 25, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  22. "מרקוס פוסטר חתם בהפועל "יונט" חולון". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  23. "Winner League, Game 2: U-NET Holon Vs Ashdod". basket.co.il. October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  24. "Winner League, Game 6: U-NET Holon Vs Be'er Sheva". basket.co.il. November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  25. "Panathinaikos officially signs Marcus Foster". Sportando. July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
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