Season Updates on Gophers Signees Alex Foster and Alvin Ellis


Journal Star: Minnesota-bound Alex Foster has opened up offense for Seton

PEORIA —

One of the biggest advantages South Holland Seton’s boys basketball team had coming into the 2012-13 Class 2A state finals was experience, but it’s not all it brings to the table.

The Sting (22-10) have relied heavily on a duo of returning starters from last year’s fourth-place state finish — seniors Mark Weems Jr. and Kamal Shashi. Seton also has one newcomer who has been quite a big difference ... literally.

University of Minnesota-bound Alex Foster, who transferred from Chicago De La Salle for his senior season, has provided a low-post presence with his 6-foot-8, 225-pound frame. That’s allowed Seton to open its offense and do things it hasn’t in the past.

“It took us some time to get used to understanding that we’ve got a big guy that needs the ball,” Seton coach Brandon Thomas said. “We’ve let our guards shoot the ball like crazy the last two years, and now it’s like ‘Hey, slow things down a bit. Go inside to this guy.’ And he’s really paying dividends for us.”

The addition of Foster has taken the pressure off of Weems, who at 17.7 points per game is not only the team’s leading scorer but also tops among remaining 2A players.

“It’s good because teams can’t just focus in on one of us,” Weems said. “They’ve got to worry about both of us and worry about Kamal, so it’s like, when you take one away, another will step up.”

The attention paid to Foster was widely visible during the Sting’s 62-37 semifinal victory Friday night over previously unbeaten Winnebago. He only finished with seven points but recorded nine rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two monster dunks.

The real beneficiary of him drawing two defenders for most of the contest was 6-foot-7 senior Johnny Patterson, who took advantage of open looks and finished with 12 points and six rebounds.

Foster chose the Gophers over a handful of other schools, including DePaul, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue and Wisconsin, mainly because it just felt right to him.

“The Big Ten’s a good conference to play in, and Tubby Smith’s a good person to play for,” Foster said about the Minnesota coach. “The whole situation was just good, so it was just the best place to be.”

Before he takes off for college, though, Foster is trying to create one more memory to take along with him.

“The whole reason for me coming here was for this moment right here, so I’m just trying to live it up,” Foster said.

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/preps/...d-Alex-Foster-has-opened-up-offense-for-Seton

Go Gophers!!
 


I don't think that is the case in football. Why is it like that in basketball?

Usually football coaches aren't fired after LOI signing day. (Bobby Petrino excepted).

Basketball has a signing period before the season starts. Therefore, coaches can be fired or move to other jobs before the player steps on campus. That is one of the minuses of signing early.
 

Alvin Ellis ‏@AEllis21
Made second team All State team.! #Blessed
 





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