Highlands’ Bradyn Foster verbally commits to Penn

By: Michael Love
Monday, October 16, 2023 | 4:10 PM

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Bradyn Foster is looking forward to the final few weeks of preparation for the upcoming Highlands boys basketball season.

But the 6-foot-8 senior forward also can look to his future after he graduates from Highlands in May.

Foster verbally committed to the Penn men’s basketball team in the Division I Ivy League.

He said he made the decision last Thursday and informed the Quakers coaches. He announced it through X (formerly Twitter) on Monday at noon. Soon after, congratulations came pouring in from near and far.

Locked in???????? #committed @PennMBB pic.twitter.com/u9YSD6HOIy

— Bradyn Foster (@bradyn_foster22) October 16, 2023

“It was a tough decision, for sure. There were a lot of things to go over,” Foster said. “My parents and I talked for a few hours about it.”

Foster made a visit to Penn in late August and got to play a pick-up game with current team members.

“They were very good, and it showed me that I still have some work to do before I get there,” he said.

Foster also made a visit to Lehigh. Penn and Lehigh, Foster said, were his top two in a grouping of six schools that had offered scholarships, including Central Arkansas, Fairfield, Toledo and Navy.

“Having this behind me really clears up a lot of the stress,” Foster said. “(The recruiting process) was a little hectic at times. I got four of the offers within 25 days of each other. I definitely enjoyed it, but I am relieved it’s done, and I’m happy with my decision.”

Highlands coach Corey Dotchin said Foster is another example of the good that comes out of the program’s mission of being bigger than just basketball where work off the court is just as important as work on it.

“Not everyone gets the opportunity like Bradyn to move on and play in a great college program and have the opportunity to receive an Ivy League education,” Dotchin said. “I am super happy for him and for all the hard work and dedication he’s put in to being where he is today.”

Foster said he plans to study business or finance and will join a Quakers team that hopes to build on last year’s 17-13 record.

Penn, the No. 3 seed in last March’s Ivy League tournament, suffered a 77-70 loss to No. 2 Princeton in the semifinals.

“Bradyn will join a well-known basketball program with such a rich tradition and also get one of the best educations anyone can ask for,” Dotchin said.

Foster will see a familiar face when he arrives on campus as former Armstrong quarterback and basketball player Cadin Olsen is a freshman this fall on the Penn football team.

“I talked with him a couple of days before I committed, and I saw him while I was on my visit,” Foster said. “He gave me some good information and advice.”

The Quakers play their home games at the world-famous Palestra.

Foster will make his verbal commitment official next month. The first day of the national letter of intent signing period for basketball and other sports is Nov. 8.

Foster and his Highlands teammates are gearing up for the 2023-24 season, which kicks off with the opening of preseason practices Nov. 1 and the start of games the weekend of Dec. 1.

“With making this decision, I think Bradyn can enjoy his senior year in school with his friends and also be able to play more free and relieved to know he doesn’t have to worry about who is up in the stands watching him,” Dotchin said.

Foster had a strong junior season in helping lead Highlands to a WPIAL Class 4A No. 5 seed after a runner-up finish to Hampton in Section 1.

The Golden Rams, who went 23-6 overall, advanced to the WPIAL semifinals, rolling past Elizabeth Forward and the rival Talbots before falling 87-64 to No. 1 seed Lincoln Park.

Foster finished with a team-best 19.4 points per game, up seven a contest from his sophomore season.

He also showed ability to shoot from beyond the arc. While he excelled with his points and rebounds in the paint, he also connected on 29 3-pointers.

Foster was selected a Valley News Dispatch first-team all-star and collected all-section honors.

“We still have a long way to go to reach the expectations we always set for ourselves,” Foster said. “We know we have some big shoes to fill of those who graduated. I think we can be a good team. We just have to keep working.”

Added Dotchin: “We, as a program, have the same goals year in and year out with competing for a section title and making a run at a WPIAL championship. This year is no different. We are looking for Bradyn and others like Cam Reigard and Jordyn Tavarez, who started for us last year as juniors, to shoulder that leadership load, carry these young guys, and take on bigger roles. We’ll see what happens here in about a month.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Highlands