Fred Foster, Middle Early College

(Photo from The Buffalo News)

By Bianca Williams-McClamb

Gary “Fred” Foster is an 18-year-old senior basketball player for Middle Early College in Buffalo. He has been playing basketball for four years now and also participates in football for South Park HS. Foster played for Tapestry before Early/Middle College. Fred says that he prepares for each game by listening to preferably Fredo Santana or Lil’ Reese.

Foster depends on support from his family while he is on the court.

“I love my teammates and coach, because they push me every day to get better,” said Foster when detailing his team.

He proves that he is a mature leader on his basketball squad by not letting losses get to him, but moving on and relishing his team’s victories. Foster feels like his team has the tools on offense and defense to win a championship, but now it’s all about execution. Foster has never been seriously injured which is why he is able to showcase his superstar traits throughout the season.

Coach Randall Rich has been coaching basketball since 1998 at Brockport HS. In 2000 he was the JV coach and varsity assistant at Buffalo Traditional under Starling Bryant. In 2007 was the varsity coach at Buffalo Arts and in 2008 got the varsity boys basketball job at MECHS. He coached a variety of sports since 2000 for buffalo schools including: girls’ varsity softball for three years, cross country for 10 years, track for seven years, and JV football for one season.

Coach Rich’s philosophy is what’s best for the kids. It’s not about himself, it’s what is best for the student. He has never kicked a student off the basketball team, his school has also graduated every basketball player since 2008 that stuck it out all four years. All but one or two players have gone on and at least tried college under Coach Rich’s tutelage.

A typical practice for Coach Rich and his kids is late at night because they have shared gyms their entire existence which he says is tough on the young men. But he knows when a kid doesn’t leave school until 745 at night you know they want to play and get better or they would take the easy way out and leave at 230. Coach Rich practices JV and varsity together at least three times a week to prepare the next group that will play varsity.

Coach Rich says this about his star player, “Gary is one of the most talented players I have coached if not the most talented” He says though sometimes Gary can be misunderstood he loves having him on his team. He detailed his athletic ability by saying “on the court he is talented and has the skill of a guard and size and power of a forward.

He can score inside and out shoots well for someone 6’6” He has amazing athletic ability he can jump out of the gym with a 37-inch vertical jump, and has speed of a guard. He was our leading scorer last year and is a great rebounder he is a good passer too for his size” but with all his athletic accomplishments he says he is most proud of Gary for being on pace to graduate and that is greatest accomplishment.

Coach Rich says losing is hard and no likes to but is part of life and when the game is over it’s over and you lose graciously.

As for his goals each season Coach Rich says “I learned from Starling Bryant a long time ago you only have one goal each year and that is a state championship” also that “If your players expectation is to win all the coaches have to do is show them how to prepare and work.”

Joseph Staton is a teammate of Fred he plays point guard and shooting guard and averages 18.7 points per game. Staton has known Fred six years and two years on the team.

Joseph says playing the game with Foster is exciting and fun to play Joseph also says “Fred does things that are unexpected and gives the team an extra push towards success throughout every game”

Describing a day of practice with Foster, Joseph said “practice with Fred is very funny and he brings a lot of light to the team he’s really focused and serious and gets things done during practice he is a great leader for a team he brings nothing but positivity”

When describing Foster as a teammate, Joseph said “Fred as a teammate is funny and he really brings positive vibes to the team. He’s also always there to help if someone on the team needs him and he also is a leader and comes to every practice and helps others learn things they don’t know.”

Joseph said this of Foster as a player: “Fred is a big help to any team he can play both inside if wanted and outside he can bang a three and can dunk on anyone he is a spectacular player and helps teams out with every aspect of a game assist, rebounds, points, steals he is a very versatile player.”