by Dianna White
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - As the Santa Clara University academic year comes to a close, rising junior Kevin Foster reflected on this past year's basketball season as he prepares for next year's season including the team's upcoming trip to Vancouver.
Before the Vancouver trip, Foster will spend some time at home in Houston, Texas. He plans to consider his time off a 'work trip', with lots of conditioning with his father, Rick Foster and his brother, Rodney Foster, who played for Rice University. "We're going to condition a lot," said Foster, "Work on a lot of shooting, a lot of ball handling, constantly working. My brother has taught me a lot and he's going to continue to teach me." He also looks forward to spending time at home with his mother, Gilda Foster.
Foster liked what he saw in individuals from two players in particular, Marc Trasolini and Raymond Cowels III, excelled during the off-season work. "Marc has really been playing well, getting a lot stronger and working hard on his jump-shot. He's a senior and he's really taking that leadership role seriously," Foster said of his teammate. "Ray has been getting better with his ball handling and shooting. He is a really confident player as well. I'm looking forward to playing with both of those guys next year, as well as the whole team."
Not resting on last year's success, as seven new men join next year's team, Foster looks forward to traveling to Vancouver to play four exhibition games. Being so far away from home the team is required to interact with each other, creating unity. "It's always good when you're around each other for a long period of time. You're forced to mingle and get to know your teammates," Foster said. "The better you know your teammates off the court, the better you know them on the court."
In 2011 Foster led the nation in threes made per game, averaging 20.2 ppg and 3.7 apg. He made 140 three pointers- ninth all-time in NCAA history and a new WCC record. For his efforts he was named the WCC Player of the Month in both February and March. "If I was taking better shots, I wouldn't have made as many threes I think," said Foster smiling. "I would have not made as many because I wouldn't of taken as many."
Although Foster had a successful season, being named the CIT Most Valuable Player, to the All-WCC First Team and NABC First Team All-District, there are parts of his game that he hopes to improve. "I can always improve quickness and ball handling, you can never improve that enough," Foster said. "I'm working on my passing as well. I have a lot of attention always drawn to me and if I am a willing passer, my teammates will have more open shots."