March 11, 2015
Commodore History Corner Archive
Shan Foster (2005-08) was a First Team All-State basketball player from the state of Louisiana. As a senior at Bonnabel High School, he averaged 23.4 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots per game. Foster had been tabbed as the ninth-best forward in the nation and among the top 150 high school recruits. So it would seem natural for Foster to take his talents to LSU for his college ball.
“There was a considerable amount of pressure in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana to attend LSU,” Foster said. “They have a tremendous fan base and it was a state school on the verge of playing very well. A lot of the guys I played against in the summer time were going to LSU so I practically knew their entire team. There was a very interesting dynamic between them and myself.
“I had a stronger tie to the SEC than I did LSU. I really didn’t have a great feel for their coaching staff during the recruiting process. We didn’t see eye to eye on certain things. There were no bad times or arguments with them. It just didn’t fit well with my spirit and me. I put a lot more emphasis on my education and the opportunities given to me post-basketball. Coach (Kevin) Stallings and Vanderbilt made me feel at home.
“Coach Stallings was a guy that had a lot of integrity. What was promised to me was an opportunity — not necessarily a lot of playing time. He promised an opportunity for me to become a man, to learn and grow. Earning my degree from Vanderbilt would mean more than any award that I would ever win.”
Foster also considered Kansas, Illinois and Notre Dame. He was born in Laurel, Miss., but raised in Kenner, La., a suburb of New Orleans. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound guard/forward made his first start as a freshman in the ninth game of the year, a 78-55 win over TCU. Foster poured in 13 points with four rebounds.
“In practice we had a Gold team and a Black team,” said Foster. “The Black team is usually the starting group for the upcoming game. We were going through practice two days before the TCU game. I had been added to the Black team in the first lineup. When I saw my name on the practice plan I started to get nervous and wondered, `What does this mean? Is it a joke?’ After practice I asked one of the assistant coaches if I was starting. I didn’t want to get too excited since I was happy with my role.
“They said I was unless I did something to screw it up. Nothing was given to me it was always something I worked for. I had played power forward/center in high school and going to the SEC and being a guard was something I had to learn. I felt that guys that had played guard all their lives had an advantage on me. I was learning to play guard as a new college player. There were a lot of nights in the gym and sleeping in the gym. I wanted it so bad.
“One of my teammates Alex Gordon played one-on-one with me so many times. We would limp off the floor. Then we would get up the next day and go one-on-one again. This was after practice. When I got into the starting lineup my focus changed from doing everything I could to start to do everything to stay there. My dad played basketball at the University of Southern Mississippi and told me to enjoy the work that I was doing. I put my best foot forward whether it was a win or loss. That year showed me I could play in the SEC and that I had the potential to be a leader one day.”
Vanderbilt was 20-14 (8-8, SEC) that season, making it to the NIT and beating Indiana and Wichita State before losing at Memphis. Foster started 24 of 34 games and averaged 9.2 points and connected on 69-of-155 (44.5 percent) 3-pointers. He netted 25 points in the Arkansas game in Memorial Gym and 25 points in Memphis. For his stellar first season, Foster was selected to the All-SEC Freshman Team.
In his sophomore season, the Commodores were 17-13 (7-9, SEC) and lost to Notre Dame in the opening round of the NIT. Foster was named to the First Team All-SEC squad after averaging 15.9 points and shooting 45.1 percent (162-of-359) from the field. He scored a then-career high 30 points at Alabama. Foster hit at least one 3-pointer in 28 of his 30 games.
“I went from being a guy trying to make the starting lineup to trying to make some type of impact on our team, “said Foster. “I was now being asked to go out and perform at a higher level on a nightly basis and in a lot of ways to be a leader for the other guys on the team. It was such a great honor to be recognized First Team All-SEC as a sophomore representing Vanderbilt University.
“That was probably the worst year for our team in my career as a whole. From an individual standpoint it was a great year. I felt that I took my game to another level. I hit so many big baskets and we won a lot of good games. From a team standpoint, which is most important to me, we under-achieved. There were a lot of different reasons for that. There were some things that were important to change to get things off on the right foot for the next year.”
One Commodore player that motivated Foster to progress his game to the next level was Derrick Byars. Byars had transferred from the University of Virginia and became eligible to play during the 2005-06 season after sitting out a year. He had two years of eligibility remaining. After his senior year, Byars was named an All-American and the SEC Player of the Year.
“Derrick is still now my brother and friend,” Foster said. “We would push each other all the time. He was older than me and I always thought of Derrick as being a better player than I was at that point. I would strive every day to either match his level or be a step higher.
“That was my goal every day in practice. I looked at him as the guy that had the tools and the ability to do the things I wanted. I spent a lot of time working with him and guarding each other in practice. To have him there during my sophomore and junior year taught me a lot about the game of basketball.”
The Commodores had a memorable season during Foster’s junior year. The team was 22-12 (SEC 10-6) and fought its way to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament. One very memorable January game was against coach Bruce Pearl and his Tennessee squad.
With just seconds on the clock, Byars grabbed a Ross Neltner half-court inbound pass. Byars raced to the right side of the Commodore basket, but missed a contested lay-up. Foster took the rebound from the left side for a quick put-back as the buzzer sounded. Vanderbilt won 82-81 and Foster collected 14 points in the game.
“UT is obviously Vanderbilt’s biggest rival and we battled for bragging rights in the state of Tennessee all the time,” Foster said. “Bruce Pearl did a phenomenal job with them. They had so many big wins with a team that did not seem on paper like they were going to be contenders. They suited up and gave their all no matter where the game was home or away. They had Chris Lofton who was leading their team in scoring and could shoot lights out with the ball. There was a lot of tension there between he and I just from a competitive standpoint.
“The game was close throughout and every single basket was tooth and nail. We went down to that last play (UT ahead 81-80) and Derrick got the ball. We know he is going to get off a good shot for us. He had been playing great the whole game and all year. Coach Stallings always prepared us and said that statistics show that games are not won on game buzzer-beaters. That they are really won on offensive rebounds that are put back in.
“When the ball is shot so many players are looking around and caught up in the moment. Then all of a sudden a guy gets an offensive rebound and puts it back in. I was fortunate enough to take that moment seriously. Derrick made a nice shot and I was there waiting just in case he missed and he did. I was there to put it in. Our fans were going crazy with Memorial Magic. I can’t say enough about our fans; the best fans in America.”
In the next month, more Memorial Magic was witnessed as the Commodores defeated Coach Billy Donovan’s No.1 ranked Florida team, 83-70. The Gators were the defending national champs and would end the season with back-to-back national championships.
“We had beaten Georgia Tech and some other ranked teams earlier that year,” Foster said. “Our confidence was very high. If we executed our game plan and played well as we traditionally did at home, we would have a chance to win. We were pretty much even keel and realistic. We didn’t get too high.
“We just wanted to put ourselves in a position to win that game. My hat goes off to my teammates like Ross Neltner and Dan Cage who were much smaller, but were banging with the likes of Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Chris Richard, who were their big guys at the time. We came up with rebounds and big defensive stops when we needed it. Playing the No. 1 team puts the excitement in the air.
“Nobody has to pump you up or say anything to get you excited. As a basketball player there is not a lot of opportunities to play against the No. 1 team in the country. The fans were excited. Our student section was completely packed, as it was a soldout game as most were that season.”
Foster also remembers Coach Stallings resisting to give Noah the basketball after a turnover under the Vanderbilt basket.
“I wasn’t close by, but I did see it happen.” Foster said. “In college basketball it takes a lot of energy, focus, ego and a certain kind of arrogance to play at a high level in the SEC and professionally. Noah was not by any means a bad person. I played pickup games with and against him many times. When you step between those lines it is about winning. You don’t have any friends unless they are wearing the same color uniform.”
Foster and Byars each totaled a game-high 24 points in the win over the Gators. Foster finished eighth overall in scoring in the SEC that season with 15.6 points per game. He made at least one 3-pointer in 28 of 34 games. Foster recorded a then career-high 33 points in the Commodores’ 99-90 overtime win at South Carolina.
That amazing season was capped with an appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Victories came over George Washington (77-44) and Washington State (78-74) in double overtime. The season ended with a loss to Georgetown (66-65) in East Rutherford, N.J.
“That was probably one of the most exciting times in my basketball career,” said Foster. “Just seeing the support of our fans and even the teachers at Vanderbilt was so excited about what we had accomplished. We were all just living in the moment. Practices were great. Everybody was focused. We were hitting on all cylinders.
“We knew that our chance to win was playing together. It was not about any one man. It was about doing everything offensively and defensively together. That was why it hurt so much when we lost. We were winning at the end, but it came down to a buzzer beater off the glass by Jeff Green. I was guarding him. A guy like Jeff Green, who is playing in the NBA now, is a great player. You just want to do a good job to make it hard for him to get a good shot.
“I thought I had done that, but he took an extra step and the referee didn’t call (traveling). It was controversial and we lost by one point. Tears just flowed in the locker room for many guys and coaches. Even in the wake of that loss, to be able to say we took that team to the Sweet 16 and beating some of the best-ranked teams in college basketball that season was an amazing thing.”
In the summer of 2007, Foster was chosen from a pool of 32 college players to the 12-member USA Pan-American Games that competed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Foster was the second-leading scorer (9.4 points a game) on the squad and the third-leading rebounder (4.4 rebounds). The team finished in fifth place, winning the final three games with Foster in the starting lineup. Foster was the only player on the team from the SEC.
“We had a great coach in (Villanova coach) Jay Wright, one of the best player coaches in college basketball,” said Foster. “I can’t say enough about being able to represent the United States of America. It was an awesome time. I got a chance to see Brazil and learn a different culture. That experience helped me when I played in Europe during my professional career.
“It was interesting that when we were going through tryouts I felt I had played my best basketball. One of the things I try is to encourage kids to make sure you are giving 100 percent on offense and defense. I went into that training camp to prove that nobody was going to work harder than me. Not that many players have that chance and honor of representing their country. It is an accomplishment that I appreciate.”
The Commodores began Foster’s senior year on fire. They were 16-0 before suffering their first loss of the season in double overtime at Kentucky. Vanderbilt was undefeated that season in Memorial Gym at 19-0. In the SEC opener against South Carolina, Foster broke Ronnie McMahan’s school record for most 3-pointers made in a career (296).
“When we came off the Sweet 16 year I had an exit meeting with Coach Stallings before I left for the summer,” Foster said. “One of the things he told me was his expectation for me to come back and be a better player. We were losing Derrick (Byars), but we had a good nucleus of guys. We were also getting A.J. Ogilvy (freshman) and Jermaine Beal (sophomore), who got tournament experience.
“We had seniors that would help us like Ross Neltner, Alex Gordon and Alan Metcalfe that were leaders for us. We had expectations of getting back to the tournament for sure. We wanted to prove that we could play with the upper echelon of college teams. We worked hard, but tried to enjoy it. We went into practices with a smile on our faces. My senior year was an awesome experience.
“For those first 16 games to have Ogilvy, a freshman, averaging 17 points per game made us better. Our opponents had to pick their poison. They were going to have to stop A. J. down low or deal with me on the wing. We had a tandem that worked well for us. I felt so close to our fans. They made it comfortable for us to play.”
In February those pesky Vols were back at Memorial Gym, but this time bringing a No.1 ranking in the country with them. It was a huge game with emotions and excitement building with fans on both sides. Vanderbilt won 72-69 and Foster poured in 32 points.
“That game wasn’t as hard to prepare because we had beaten Florida who was No. 1 the year before,” Foster said. “They were coming to our place just after they won a tough game in Memphis that put them at No. 1. Coach Stallings said if you can’t get excited about this game, then you don’t need to be playing college basketball. This is what you dream about as a child.
“This is what college basketball is all about to go up against the No. 1 team in the country on national television where everybody is watching. For those that don’t get to play professionally this is as good as it gets. You have to live in that moment and give it your all.
“We studied our scouting reports and had really good focused practices. When we showed up at the gym and heard our fans, we were ready to play. I got to the gym two and a half hours before the game started and there was a line around the gym to get in. Everything felt just right for us to win. You have to show up and play your best basketball. To be able to beat another No. 1 ranked team is like — wow.”
On senior night that season, Foster gave a performance that Vanderbilt fans will remember for a long time. The game was against Mississippi State and knotted at halftime, 30-30. Foster had six points and no 3-pointers at the intermission.
“The year before on Derrick’s senior night we played against Arkansas at home,” Foster said. “His senior night was spoiled because we lost. I was very determined that our night would not go down like that. My only thought was if there is no other game the rest of my life, I couldn’t lose that game. People kept talking about this being our last game in Memorial Gym, but we focused on winning that game.
“My teammates that were not seniors wanted us to win that game. That game had a feel of playing the No. 1 team in the country again. My pre-game routine was always the same. I’d take a nap after our pre-game meal. I’d go to You Tube and look at clips of Michael Jordan or things I had done in the past and have that playing in my ear. I’d wake up and say my prayers.
“My prayer before this game was simply to have the opportunity to show the fans how much I appreciated their support in my four years at Vanderbilt. The game did not start out that great. I was 0-for-6 from threes and Mississippi State had control of the game for the most part. My teammates and coaches told me not to stop shooting. They had confidence in me. At some point things are going to fall and things are going to turn around quickly. ”
Foster missed the first six three-pointers he attempted then netted nine straight to close the game. He didn’t connect on his first trey until the 10:43 mark of the second half. Foster collected 42 points (16-of-25) in the 86-85 OT victory before 14, 316 fans. His final three-pointer was a game-winner with 2.7 seconds for another Memorial Magic story. His 42 points tied Bo Wyenandt for second place all-time for Vanderbilt. Tom Hagan scored 44 points in 1969 for the most points scored by a Commodore.
“Once I hit that first three there was a smile on my face,” said Foster. “I knew it was going to be a long night for them. I never thought in a million years that I would hit nine threes in a row. But it happened. We waited for the (senior night) ceremony after the game. The amazing thing was when they called my name most of the fans were still there. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.”
What about the final 3-pointer to win the game?
“It was the overall consensus on our team that nobody was going to shoot the ball but me,” Foster said with a laugh. “My teammates did a great job looking for me. The first time I touched the ball in that possession I wasn’t open. I thank God I had the patience not to take a bad shot. I’m sure my teammates would say they never saw I shot I didn’t like. I really don’t take shots that I’m not comfortable. I’m very unselfish about my basketball.
“Alex Gordon got the ball on the wing and he pump faked and drove to his left. I was trailing him on the side. I had to fall back further than the 3-point line because they were guarding me so close. By the time I got the ball, there was literally an inch of space between me and the guy guarding me. I just rose over him and shot. It felt short when it left my hand.
“It seemed like a three-minute intermission when the ball was in the air (Foster laughing). When I saw the ball go through the net it took a lot for me to compose myself. It was the most points I ever scored in a game. That time, that night in front of those fans and my family that was a special moment.”
Vanderbilt finished that season with a 26-8 (SEC 10-6) record. They were defeated by Siena in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In that season, Foster averaged 20.3 points and made 134-of-286 (46.9 percent) three-pointers. Foster was named First Team All-SEC, SEC Player of the Year and an All-American.
Foster averaged 15.2 points in his career playing in 132 games and graduated as Vanderbilt’s all-time leading scorer with 2,011 points. He is currently ranked in the Vanderbilt record book first in career field goals made (699), field goals attempted (1,483), 3-pointers (367) and tied (with John Jenkins) for first in 3-pointers made in a season (134).
The Dallas Mavericks selected Foster in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft (51st overall).
“I was pleased to be drafted by Dallas,” said Foster “They have a great organization led by two great guys in (then-coach) Donnie Nelson and (owner) Mark Cuban. I had an opportunity to get to know them a little bit. Donnie is such an awesome guy. He had me out to his lake house twice. The NBA is literally the best basketball in the world. I had a chance to watch Dirk Nowitzki work out and train for 30 minutes.
“He did not miss one shot in 30 minutes. As good of a shooter that I became I was never that good. It gave me a respect for how much harder you need to work to be a professional basketball player. It was interesting that I saw players who I’d seen on TV. To be out there on that type of stage to perform at that level showed me that my hard work had paid off.”
In the next few years Foster was playing professionally in Europe and the NBA summer league. He never made it to the NBA as the Mavericks won the 2011 NBA championship.
“Dallas had my rights for four years,” Foster said. “At the end of that four-year period their program just didn’t allow me to really step in. With trades and salary cap issues it just didn’t work out. My rights were traded to the Utah Jazz. I went through a physical that showed I had high blood pressure. I was released from Utah and sent home. I saw a doctor and got that cleared and played in the NBA Development League in Bakersfield. It didn’t pan out the way I wanted.
“Our team did great and we were the second best team in the league that year. I had a great year, but I made a decision it was time for me to pursue something different. I was fortunate that I had planned to take care of my family after basketball with my Vanderbilt education. The ties that I have in Nashville have allowed me to do the things I enjoy.
“I am a motivational speaker and the Director of Player Development for Nike Select Basketball in Nashville. I conduct individual and group private lessons for all those in the Nashville area playing for Elite Hoops Basketball and Nike Select. I’m also teaching at Intrepid College Prep as a fifth grade finance literacy teacher and I teach physical education as well. I spend so much time with kids.
“I feel like everything I went through and experienced with the status, the awards, the accolades and all the games are for a reason. There is somebody else, some child or some other parent that can take those experiences and learn from them. I want them to understand if I can do it coming from New Orleans, La., that they can do it as well.”
Foster taught himself to play the piano when he was younger and recently learned to play the guitar. His passion is gospel and spiritual songs and he sang in a choir. While at Vanderbilt some music artists helped him produce a song on a CD, “God and Music City.”
Foster was asked about playing basketball for Coach Stallings.
“Coach Stallings is a guy who is very intense, passionate and very emotional about his players,” said Foster. “He wants his guys and program to perform well. I have an appreciation for Coach Stallings and what he does on a regular basis. In those moments in the heat of a game he is just a competitive as Michael Jordan. He wants to win.
“The things that we practice, and work on, makes a player better. He wants us to show up on the floor because that brings us the most happiness. I have so many experiences to tell when he would give you the shirt off his back. Coach Stallings has impressed me with what he has done now with these young guys. It is a very young team. To see the success we’ve had so far with the potential we have is amazing.”
Foster was also selected to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Vanderbilt Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He is one of the most decorated players in Vanderbilt basketball history.
“Words cannot express what all that really means to me,” said Foster. “I think back to the way I was raised with my mom being a single parent for the majority of my life. She raised my brother, my sister and me in some pretty hard times. As kids we did not realize it was hard because she did such a great job sacrificing and giving her all so her kids could have a good life. I was a child that grew up in the New Orleans environment when New Orleans was the murder capital of the world. I had so many different experiences where life in New Orleans was about surviving.
“To get from there to being on the SEC All-Freshman Team, the SEC Player of the Year, an All-American, the all-time scorer in Vanderbilt history and selected to the Hall of Fame at Vanderbilt and the State of Tennessee is such an honor. These are things that I never thought I’d accomplished. Basketball doesn’t owe me anything yet. It has given me so much. I am grateful to Coach Stallings, who saw enough in me to give me that opportunity.
“Obviously I’m grateful to my parents, grandparents and all my family that sacrificed so much for me to get to the place I am now. They are the ones that deserve the awards with Nashville and Vanderbilt fans who supported me during tough times like going through Hurricane Katrina and not being able to talk to my family for many days. The Vanderbilt community reached out to help me. I’m appreciative and all glory is to God for all of it.”
If you have any comments or suggestions you can contact Bill Traughber via email WLTraughber@aol.com.
