Well hard to project any late round pick to the superstar level, but I think one player that definitely has not gotten enough play from draftniks so far is Vanderbilt's Shan Foster. Anyone who saw Vandy upset Tennesee would know what I'm talking about, as Foster had a tour de force performance in that game (9/13 FG, 8/11 3pt, 32 pts). Unfortunately his team got bounced early in the NCAA, but they had a really great season, pulled of a few nice upsets and Foster really led the way for them. The great thing about Foster and 20 ppg average was just how good of a shooter he was this year- this was a player who shot 52% from the field and and 47% from 3- and he was taking his share of 3's (8 per game).

Foster has the perfect frame for a 2g- 6'6", 210 or so. He's a lengthy player- long arms let him get a few steals per game. Can really work it off screens. But what's interesting about him is he's got a high release point- some compare it to Michael Redd- I think he's very old school- has that beautiful arching shot and quick release. Watching him take a shot off a screen is a pretty sight.

Now, he's pretty thin. Is he a great defender or passer? Not really. But like a Redd or Hamilton he puts in a great effort, he's well conditioned and he can really fill it up. Unlike a Morris Almond last year who looked like he was running in glue, while this guy may not be explosive, he can move laterally and come off a screen like a Hamilton or Miller.

Where is he gonna get drafted? Right now people are saying late first round, but I tend to think a player like this is gonna move up the charts- a scorer/shooter this good is too much to pass up. How can we get him? There's always teams selling off their late first rounders...i.e. Phoenix, San Antonio etc- we see it every year. If he is still there this is a player I'd go get.

Again, while this draft may be flat after the top 2 picks that doesn't mean it isn't deep. There are interesting players up and down the board that would be worth looking at, it which again makes it a crying shame that we traded our high 2nd rounder (and didn't use the guy we acquired with it), but I digress. This thread is about Foster. Here's some linkage:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=22108

http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/shanfoster.html

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Shan-Foster-434/playerblog/

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_blogs/basketball/ncaa/2007/11/blog-q-with-vanderbilts-shan-foster.html




[Edited by - vdesai on 25-03-2008 11:27 AM]

BTW- as some of you may have noticed- I have long been a proponent here of True Shooting Percentage- Shan Foster was no.3 in the NCAA in TS%. He was also no.1 in the entire NCAA in Points Per Possesion.

http://www.draftexpress.com/stats.php?q=eff&year=2007/08&league=NCAA&per=pergame&qual=prospects&sort2=DESC&pos=&stage=&min=15&sort=9

Talk about scoring efficiency- this is your man right here.

Posted by purple012870:

I think Shan Foster = Kareem Rush, a guy that has the ability to go inside, but does not. Good shooter, but little else. 2nd rounder

The difference = shooting efficiency. This guys' is rare- Rush's is not. Foster can make a living going off screens and be a really nice scorer for someone.

To give you a comp- during Rush's sr. season where he averaged 20, he shot .426 FG and .405 3pt...signficantly trailing Foster. Rush has also been about a 40% shooter in the L.

[Edited by - vdesai on 25-03-2008 11:48 AM]

He reminds me of Trent Tucker in that he's deadly from 3 and can play defense. He's taller and more athletic than Trent, but like Trent, he's not going to blow by people.

NBA draft. net must have lost their minds with this comaparison. read his strengths.. LOL.. those sure as hell were not shandon Anderson's strengths.. this sites write ups are pure bullshyt a lot of times....

NBA Comparison: Shandon AndersonStrengths: 2-guard with excellent athleticism and shooting ability … Catch and shoot specialist … One of the premiere three point shooters in the country … Has been completely on fire through the first half of his senior season (shooting 53% from 3) ... Has a good frame for the shooting guard position with both height and length … Has excellent speed, excels in the open floor finishing well on the break with his explosive leaping ability … While not pretty his shot is effective: The high release point on his shot allows him to get shots off without much daylight

Tiago Splitter has a .64 True Scoring average over in Europe.

Not too shabby.

Shan Foster -- will this be another spot-on V prediction? Stay tuned...