Big guard, bigger dreams for Foster

Long before NCAA offers, and a growth spurt that saw him hit 6’6, Daniel Foster was that kid complaining over a warm-up.

“I think I was a bit lazy growing up. I remember running the two laps at footy (Aussie Rules football) training, and it used to annoy me a bit,” Foster cheekily exclaimed.

The product of Marcellin College was a multi-sport talent, who saw him as a coveted member of both the football and basketball first teams.

But when it came to the fork in the road, his lazy streak steered him towards basketball.

“I was a bit small out there, and basketball naturally became the sport I enjoyed playing a bit more. Not as cold playing inside either, right?”

Laziness turned into a relentless work ethic, and paid dividends for the 24-year-old, who enjoyed a National Schools championship with Marcellin in 2016. He also went on to be part of Marcellin’s 3 AGSV championships, a National Junior Classic championship with Bulleen in 2017, and even a bronze medal for Australia’s ‘3x3’ team at FIBA’s U18 Asia Cup.

“I think the Basketball Victoria system prepared me as well as possible. Being the premier league compared to the other states, the level of competition is as high as it gets in Australia.”

Playing at Bulleen gave Foster the chance to share the court with fellow elite sportsmen, such as Collingwood Football Club’s Isaac Quaynor, and Sydney Kings’ Keli Leaupepe, whose careers he still closely follows.

“My parents would keep me updated with the footy, and Isaac, while I was over at college, and to still see him succeeding now is just awesome. Kelli, on the other hand, when he was playing for Loyola Marymount University, we got to play each other a couple of times on the opposite side of the world.”

“It made for some pretty special moments.”

After a successful junior career, Marcellin’s star had accrued a range of NCAA Division 1 offers, ultimately selecting Nevada to continue as a student-athlete.

But it wasn’t always easy playing for the Nevada Wolf Pack.

“I had my fair share of injuries in college. A couple of surgeries, which are no fun, and being away from family and home for so long. D1 level as well, you could play the best team in the country one night, and the worst the next, which took a bit of adjusting.”

After 5 seasons at Nevada, the decision was made to return home, originally signing with the Phoenix as a development player before being rewarded a full roster spot before the season began.

As he adjusts to pro basketball, the ‘big guard’ has shown flashes of potential as he learns behind some of the best in business.

“Here the game is played at such a high pace compared to college, and it’s so much more physical, like these are grown men. This is a premier, professional league, so the competition is definitely stronger and a lot more depth throughout,.” he said.

“Their (Phoenix veterans) approach to it every day is no days off, even when it comes to the little things, or preparation before or after practice. They’ve helped me realise that stuff goes a long way, and it’s such a tribute to why they’re still playing at such a high level.”

Basketball is no stranger to the broader family, with brother Matthew (Jr.) a member of the Phoenix’s front office staff, as well as father, Matt, a former NAIA basketballer with Oregon Tech. Both sons also took the court for their dad in 2019, for Hume City in the Big V competition.

“It’s a perfect scenario for me. To be able to play at home in front of my parents, my brother, my friends, it’s special having that support system.”

The recently engaged guard, who is edging closer to his first finals series with the Phoenix, has turned to another sport in his downtime, taking up golf.

“I love my golf right now. I’m hovering around a scratch golfer right now, so once the season is done, I’ll try to get back out to the course a bit more with some schoolmates, which’ll be nice.”

Golf has provided the Phoenix’s #11 with a chance to switch off, as his career begins to gather speed.

“It allows me to switch off away from the court, which I’ve realised is just as important when it comes to basketball.”

Catch the Phoenix in action in this Thursday’s ‘Throwdown’ clash, against crosstown rivals Melbourne United, with finals implications on the line for both sides. See Foster and the rest of SEM’s stars on Thursday, February 19 on ESPN from 7:30pm.