Big 12 Basketball: Top 15 impact players from 2020 recruiting class

3. Iowa State Cyclones: Xavier Foster

This may be Iowa State Basketball’s first and only entry on this list, but at least they made it big. Number 62 in the national ranking big. Seven feet and 225 pounds from Oskaloosa Senior High School big.  In Xavier Foster, Coach Steve Prohm has a player that will fit into his offensive scheme as he immediately moves into him into the Cyclones’ starting line-up.

Foster is Coach Prohm’s best chance to improve upon a 5-13 conference record. If they are going to improve, they better do it quick, because Foster has ‘one and done’ written all over him. The most obvious benefit of Foster is that 6’8 Solomon Young can move to power forward in order to replace senior Michael Jacobson and keep George Conditt IV coming off the bench for an effective 16 minutes per game.

There is a distinct dynamic that Foster is going to bring to the offense, that might go unnoticed but is very important. Young would often fake a ball screen in order to receive a pass then hand off to the off guard and roll to the basket.  Foster can hit from the perimeter, so him handling the ball up top creates another scoring opportunity, as well as opens up the key.

Foster, while not a physical player, had the ability to drive to the basket and score while with Oskaloosa Senior, creating another threat. The impact Foster will make will be immediate and will be All-Freshman and All-Big 12 second team worthy.