South Carolina Basketball: Ranking the top-12 centers in Gamecock history
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Basketball’s No. 4 Greatest Center of All-Time:
Jimmy Foster
A beast down low for Bill Foster’s Gamecocks (no relation), Jimmy Foster (1980-1984) took almost two years off from basketball before joining the South Carolina basketball squad as a freshman. He showed no signs of rust as he became a starter before the season opened and was an impact player immediately, averaging a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double as a freshman.
Foster continued his strong play as he made the All-South Independent team as a sophomore and junior. His third year in Columbia saw the Gamecocks win 22 games (Bill Foster’s high water mark as the Gamecocks’ headman), but their Independent status kept them out of the NCAA Tournament. Carolina joined the up-and-coming Metro Conference the following season where Foster made the All-Metro Conference team.
Foster finished his career as a very efficient 60% shooter from the field, and he owns four of the top ten field goal percentage seasons in Carolina history. He ranks 6th all-time in points scored and fifth in total rebounds with 1000 boards. He is also one of just two players (along with Michael Carrera) to lead the Gamecocks in rebounding for four seasons.
Unfortunately, Foster’s great play on the court is not what is most known by many Gamecock fans. Foster got caught up in an NCAA investigation into the basketball program regarding impermissible benefits granted to Foster and other players on the team. The investigation resulted in sanctions against the team.