2018: Oscar Foster, 69, San Diego High’s Big O
Oscar Foster never won an individual scoring championship at San Diego High, but Foster finished his legendary prep career with the San Diego Section record for most points.
Consistent, often brilliant, Foster’s record was testimony to the popular, team player that he was.
Foster passed away recently in Los Angeles at age 69, a victim for at least his last 40 years of internal demons that robbed the friendly, gentle man of his great promise.
A lithe, 6-foot, 7-inch forward, Foster scored 1,766 points in three seasons and 91 games during an era in which the Cavers posted a 77-17 record and won two San Diego Section championships.
“The Big O was an unbelievable player, intimidating and competitive,” remembered Brent Strom, now the pitching coach for the Houston Astros and Foster’s teammate at San Diego High.
Player-of-the-year Foster was joined on 1966-67 all San Diego Section first team by (clockwise from upper left) Morse’s Monroe Nash, Madison’s Steve Rostoker, Kearny’s Russ (Whimpy) Northcutt, and La Jolla’s Steve Haskett.
Foster averaged 14.7 and scored 457 points in 1964-65, his sophomore season, as San Diego, 24-8 overall after being a tied-for-second-place entry in the Eastern League, got hot in the playoffs and defeated Chula Vista, 62-40, in the championship game.
The Cavers were 24-7 in 1965-66, won the third-place game in the playoffs, and Foster averaged 21.4 points and scored 667.
The 29-2 championship team of 1966-67 was beaten only by Long Beach Poly, 67-62, and St. Augustine, 55-53, in the regular season.
Foster averaged 20.6 and scored 642 points and led coach Bill Standly’s squad a 54-53 victory over Mount Miguel in the championship game.