White Boy Profile #4: Jeff Foster

Origin: January 16, 1977 in San Antonio, Tx.

Upbringing:  Played his college ball at Southwest Texas State University (Bobby Bouche, anyone?)

Keys to his Game: How on Earth is this guy an 11 year NBA veteran?  He has never averaged more than 7 points or 9 rebounds.  He is perfectly mediocre.  Keys to his game?  He sets great screens.  Seriously.  He is a marginal rebounder for his height.  He covers the baseline.  Bless his heart, he has earned over $40 million in the NBA.  

Best White Boy Feature: It is a tie between his pre-balding poof and his appeared cluelessnesss

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Interesting observations:  Again, how has this guy pulled in $40 million?  The most points he ever scored in a game was 19... twice.  11 year pro and he never even broke the 20 point barrier.  I got to give the guy credit.  White boys have a unique ability of just remaining mediocre.

NBA Career:  Only in Indiana can  Jeff Foster remain relevant for a decade.  How is it that this guy is an NBA vet when this guy never even sniffed the court 

Amazing.  Watching this video is sad to think this kid never had a legitimate shot.

Nickname(s): N/A
Proposed New Nickname:  Survivor Man

Closest Comparison (Current or Historic): 

ALL THE WAY!!!

White Boy Level: 5 out 10.  Pedestrian white boy who never broke double digits in rebounds or points

Skill Level: 3 out of 10.  Jeff Foster, you will never cease to amaze me.

White Boy Profile #3: Brad Miller

I have to say I am impressed Brad Miller is even still in the league.  Going back to his Purdue days, who knew we would still be watching his big white behind 13 years later.

Origin: April 12, 1976 in Kendallville, Ind.  If you are keeping score, that is 2 white boys from Indiana.

Upbringing: Played 3 years high school ball in Kendallville before transferring to a prep school in Maine his senior year.  Went to Purdue where he was an instrumental member on some very physical Gene Keady teams.  He was consistently average scoring 1,400 pts, grabbing 800 boards and dishing 250 assists.  He will be remembered as a tough guy for busting his chin open in his final game but refusing to stay off the floor.  And bonus white boy points for playing on the same collegiate team as Brian Cardinal, another proto-type NBA white boy.

Keys to his Game: Strong physical player with a large frame and farmers build.  Brad Miller looks mean but he has a sweet mid range jumper which has kept him relevant in the NBA.   He is not the typical rebound/shot block center you would expect.  He is a sweet shooter.  After all, he is an Indiana boy, less we forget.

Best White Boy Feature: The B.A. go-tee

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(5 great things: Oakley GANG tackles everyone, Marcus Fizer haha remember that guy?, Brad Miller shirtless, Kobe has no sympathy for Shaq, Ron Artest is the calming influence in this fight.)  Wow.

Interesting observations: He wore corn rows back in Sactown.  What on Earth was he thinking?

NBA Career: Undrafted and went to play in Italy during the lockout before being picked up by the Hornets in 98.  He is well known for his years with the Kings and Bulls.  He also had a stint with the Pacers and will be suiting up for the Rockets this year.

Nickname(s):Boss (not validated)
Proposed New Nickname: The Big Mean Shooting Machine

Closest Comparison (Current or Historic): Mehmet Okur

White Boy Level: 8 out of 10.  Brad has flourished in the league despite being undrafted and rather pedestrian through his college years.  He has found success because of his ability to shoot and play a physically demanding position.  

Skill Level: 6 out of 10.  Not an incredible rebounder or shot blocker hurts his overall skill level.  His consistency and shooting ability keep him above average.

Chase Budinger rises above

Volleyball aficionado, Chase Budinger has the athletics.

White Boy Profile #2: Gordon Hayward

Gordon Hayward

We will look at Gordon early on because I want to create some buzz about the rookie fresh off a stellar National Championship game run. 

Origin: March 23, 1990 in Brownsville, Ind

Upbringing: Born to an undersized father, it was assumed Gordon Jr. was destined to be a guard.  His father pushed him to develop his guard skills.  As a 5’11 freshman he almost abandoned basketball to pursue tennis but by his junior year, he had shot up to 6’7 and 6’8 in his senior year.  He received 3 Indiana-area scholarships and ultimately settled on Butler because 6:30 am practices would not interfere with his computer programming major and Butler enabled his twin sister to join him on campus and play tennis.   

As a college athlete, everyone by now knows about his shining moment in the NCAA tourney.  When he started on the U-19 US Men’s team, that is when the NBA dream became real to him and he decided to abandon his junior and senior seasons.  

Keys to his Game: Guard skills in a 6’9 frame.  He is a great shooter, passser, and dribbler, plays surprisingly good defense as long as it is within a scheme, and is a deceptive rebounder.  He will struggle at the NBA level beneath and around the rim but can find a long career as a spot shooter and mid-range attacker.  

Best White Boy Feature: Indiana farm boy ears.

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Interesting observations: He came from an incredible system that was predicated upon two things: run the offense through Gordon and play a cohesive team defense.  Both of those things won’t happen in the NBA.  Can Hayward flourish in the NBA style of game?  I think he can if he is willing to adapt.  As a cerebral guy, I think he has potential.  

NBA Career: Drafted by Utah with the 9th pick

Nickname(s): Flash Gordon Hayward (lame)
Proposed New Nickname: Corn (you know, because of Indiana and the big ears and all).  

Closest Comparison (Current or Historic): Mike Miller

White Boy Level: This is purely based on potential.  I will give him a 6.5 out of 10.  I see that as his ceiling.  A quality back up who can score in bunches, make funny Internet cameos and even hold his own on the defensive end.  

Skill Level: Potentially 5.5 out of 10.  I don’t see Hayward representing his conference in an all star game, and I don’t even seeing him in the starting line up of a quality playoff team.  But that doesn’t mean, he can’t have an above-average career has a bench scorer on a good team or a starting forward on a 30 win team that is fun to watch.