Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — Shawn Foster may be listed on Lima Senior’s roster as a freshman, but on the court, he carries himself like a crafty veteran.
The 6-foot-1 combo guard leads the Spartans in two categories, points per game with 16.7 and steals per game at 1.9.
Scoring and defense. That’s what Foster’s game is all about.
When he’s on the court, it’s easy to forget that this time last year he was in eighth grade playing middle school ball and watching the varsity Spartans from the stands on Fridays.
“The transition has been crazy. It’s been real crazy,” he said. “You know with the physicality of it, the pace of the game, how quick everybody is. It’s been a real challenge, but I think I’ve pushed through it, and I’m ready to keep going throughout the season.”
Foster said the physicality of the varsity level, where the Spartans are 6-5 heading into Saturday’s annual duel at Ottawa-Glandorf, is the biggest thing he’s had to adjust to early on. To combat that, he said he added 10 to 12 pounds of muscle to his frame since last winter.
“I’ve been having to get stronger in the weight room,” he said. “Getting quicker, faster and better as a defender has been important too. I still need to improve on that end of the floor for sure.”
One thing he’s always had is an ability to get off the floor in a hurry. Whether it comes on one of his signature hesitation pull-ups or a highlight dunk between defenders, Foster’s leaping ability stands out.
“That bounce is something I’ve had throughout my whole life, but from June to now, I’ve just been jumping way higher,” he said. “I’ve gained a lot more bounce (this year). My jumping abilities are better so that I can finish over taller defenders.”
Taller defenders, athleticism, physicality. That’s the style of play the Spartans run into in the Toledo City Athletic League.
Lima Senior coach Quincey Simpson said as much after a 64-63 victory against Toledo Start earlier this season.
“When we play these city league teams from Toledo, it’s personal,” he said. “Those guys have been hearing about what we’ve done for years, so they come in here and play with a chip on their shoulder.”
Early season losses to a pair of Toledo schools in Whitmer and Scott brought Foster his first few “welcome to varsity” moments.
”They were just really physical games,” he said. “Whitmer definitely had me in mind on the scouting report, but Scott came in aggressive and bullied us. We want to see them again.”
After dropping two of their first three games to start the season, Lima Senior won four of its next five, highlighted by a signature 63-62 overtime victory over Reynoldsburg. Foster led the Spartans in scoring that night with 29 points, including five 3-pointers.
“They came in as a top-five team in the state, and they were the team everyone was talking about,” Foster said of the Raiders. “We came in and got that dub, and that’s something that’s pushing us now.”
Winning pushes Foster. But so does his father, a man who he shares his first name with and the mentor he credits for igniting his passion for basketball.
“He wanted me to play since I was really young, so that’s when I started,” Foster said. “He’s helped me build my game, and he’s why I’m at where I’m at now.”
When asked if the elder Shawn Foster was much of a basketball player himself, the younger Shawn responded with a wry smile.
“He says he was, but I don’t believe it,” he said. “I feel like I could have killed him (on the court) back in the day.”
Shawn Foster’s passion for the game brings him to the gym two and sometimes three times a day. If he’s on the gun, he’ll shoot anywhere from 500 to 1,000 shots every day.
He’s driven by winning. He’s also driven by the possibility of being the next great Spartan and being mentioned in conversations with notable recent names such as Travis Walton and Zavier Simpson.
“I think I can be the next great player out of Lima Senior. I’m really confident about that. It means a lot to be a Spartan,” he said. “You’re from Lima, Ohio. You’re supposed to have a chip on your shoulder every time you go out on that court or wherever you go. You’ve got to be tough, aggressive and you can’t let anybody bully you.”
Reach Chris Howell at 567-242-0468 or on Twitter at @Lima_Howell
