Utes get commitment from 7-2 center

The University of Utah basketball team may be a bit shorthanded this coming year, but the program continues to stockpile players for the future.

The Utes received a commitment over the weekend from David Foster, a 7-foot-2, 220-pound center from Irvine, Calif., their second commitment for the 2006-07 season.

Foster made his official visit to Utah late last week and attended the Utah-Utah State football game. He said he committed to Utah because he likes the coaching staff and the family-oriented feeling he received from coach Ray Giacoletti and his staff and the Ute players.

Foster is the second-oldest of 10 children, so the feeling of family was important to him.

"They are very family-oriented and that's good, because I will be away from my family," Foster said. "I feel I fit in pretty well with the players and coaches. My goal is to become the best player I can be, both from a physical and emotional standpoint."

Foster averaged 8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocked shots for El Toro High School, a senior- and guard-oriented team that went 26-7 last year and made the CIF finals. He said he followed the Utes when they went to the Final Four in 1998 and became very interested over the past year when the Utes made it to the Sweet 16.

Other schools that were pursuing Foster were Gonzaga, BYU, Utah State, Pacific, Colorado State and San Diego State.

Foster doesn't turn 18 until April and says he still may be growing. He said he definitely plans to fulfill an LDS mission and may redshirt his first season at Utah, depending on the Utes' needs.

His coach at El Toro, Todd Dixon, said Foster has a "huge upside" and is a "very coachable" player. He said Foster didn't start playing basketball until he was in 8th grade and didn't start varsity until last year.

"He runs the court well, has good hands, a soft touch around the basket and is a good free throw shooter," Dixon said. "When he's 21, 22, 23, he's going to be really good."

Foster joins 6-3 point guard Curtis Eatmon out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., who committed to Utah last month.

Coach Giacoletti isn't allowed by NCAA rules to comment on any recruits before the signing date in November. However, he has said say that he expects to sign four players for next year and hopes to have them signed by November.

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