2026 Chase Foster showcases high upside and talks recruiting
January 14, 2024 by Colby Giacubeno
I made my way into the historic Paul Laurence Dunbar High School gymnasium on Saturday afternoon to attend the 26th annual Baltimore City Public Schools Basketball Academy. First on the docket for Saturday's slate was an intriguing matchup between Edmondson-Westside and C. Milton Wright, two teams that have gotten off to hot starts in the 2023-24 season. The Red Storm from Edmondson feature one of the most intriguing prospect in Baltimore in 2026 forward Chase Foster. The 6-foot-10 sophomore embodies the buzzwords that scouts live by in potential and upside. His size, skill and versatility are all extremely rare in prospects for his age, but with each viewing, the potential is turning into production.
The start of the game for Foster and his team was lackluster, and that's putting it nicely. C. Milton Wright was extremely comfortable in attacking Edmondson's zone defense and when they weren't burying three's off quick reversals, guards were firing in passes to bigs around the high-post or restricted area for easy looks. Foster struggled to find his rhythm early on as 2025 forward Dylan Sander, a 6-foot-5 undersized big, matched up against him. Sander used his physicality and footwork that make him an impact on the lacrosse field to keep Foster's talent at bay.
That remained the course until the second half began.
Foster scored just one point in the first 16 minutes of play. Frustration filled the Red Storm huddle on every timeout taken as they looked like a team that just couldn't get on the same page. One the ball was inbounded in the third period, Foster's takeover began.
The long, lanky forward operated from both the mid-post or the extended wing beyond the three-point arc, but unlike in the first half, he wasted no time in attacking after making a single move. He saw plenty of success ripping baseline and using his length to finish on the opposite side of the rim while absorbing contact. After a few trips to the free-throw line, he has his defender backing off a bit on the catch to prepare for the drive. Foster squared up and buried multiple jumpers ranging from 17-21 feet with confidence and comfort. It was at this point you knew an eruption was underway.
Foster put a bow on his impressive second half performance in transition where he sprinting down the right side of the floor and shortly after retrieving a laser one-handed pass from teammate DJ Dantzler, Foster took flight over a contesting defender for a poster dunk that ignited the gym.
He'd go on to lead Edmonson to a 62-46 victory after trailing by as much as 17 points while scoring 25 of his game-high 26 points in the final two quarters of play. His offensive skill set was on full display and as mentioned earlier, it was a true example of why some think so highly of what he can become.
This led to us catching up with Foster to dive into which programs he has heard from despite still being very early in his recruiting process.
"Florida State, Xavier, Virginia Tech and Old Dominion are the schools that have been reaching out to my coaches," Foster told MADE Hoops. "There was some talks of me potentially going down to Florida State for a game this season, but it hasn't been lined up yet."
"I'll really just focus on finding a school that just fits me as I go through this process. I really want to go to a school that will take me in as family. Like, be honest with me and tell me what I really need to work on."
While polishing skill and working on mobility or flexibility is crucial with any prospect at the high school level, the mental aspect can be the true deciding factor on how good they can truly become.
"I think the biggest improvement in my game since the summer has just come with my confidence. That's just been with the work I'm putting in. My ball handling has gotten tighter, too. I think the next progression for me is just getting stronger. Getting in the weight room and learning how to really use my strength. I think that'll really complete everything."
Foster's frame and ability remind you of the prototypical wing and skilled forwards that we see on a nightly basis at the NBA level.
"I watch a lot of Emoni Bates, Paolo Banchero and Jayson Tatum. I like how Emoni can create his own shot off the dribble and just how he gets his looks. Paolo just has an all-around game and you're seeing how strong he is now to the point where I think he can really play 2-5."
Foster and the Red Storm enter the backend of their schedule with a 10-2 record. Continuing to build off the second half momentum that they established in a comeback win will be critical in facing teams such as Lake Clifton and Patterson in the next two weeks.
Foster will look to lead his team to a second-straight Class 1A state title before he plans on lacing up with Team Loaded on the 3SSB Circuit this spring.
We'll continue to monitor both he and his recruitment closely moving forward.
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