ABILENE – ACU head men's basketball coach
Joe Golding announced Monday that the Wildcats have added a pair of players for the 2017-18 squad.
Golding said ACU has signed Tobias Cameron of New Zealand to a binding national letter-of-intent, while also adding graduate transfer Tevin Foster from NCAA Division II member Drury University, which is located in Springfield, Mo.
Foster recently completed his undergraduate degree in exercise sports science and will enter graduate school at ACU in the fall in order to be eligible for his final season of basketball. Cameron – the son of Pero Cameron, arguably the greatest player in New Zealand history and an 11-time New Zealand National Basketball League champion as a player (nine titles) and head coach (two times) – will be a true freshman in 2017-18.
Here's a closer look at each player:
TOBIAS CAMERON
6-5 • 190 • Wing
• Member of the Under-19 New Zealand National Team, 2016
• Captain of Under-20 Gold Coast Waves, 2017•
• Averaged 18 ppg in Under-20 Australian Junior Championships, 2017
• Defensive Player of the Year for Gold Coast Waves Under-20 team, 2017
• Member of Under-19 New Zealand National Team that won the FIBA Oceania Championship gold meal, averaging 8.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.0 apt, 1.8 spg in tournament. Cameron was part of the first Junior New Zealand national team to defeat Australia in an Oceania Tournament to qualify for the World Championships
"What stood out to me the most about ACU was how much of a relationship the coaches created with their players on and off the court. I had the chance to watch a practice session and the players were bought in to what the coaches are preaching. Players that taking a water break were cheering on those who were still on the floor, and I knew I wanted to be part of that kind of brotherhood."
— Tobias Cameron on why he chose ACU
"I couldn't be happier for Tobias. He plays the game the way it is supposed to be played. He is a relentless competitor. Relentless. His will to win just beats the opposition into submission. He just makes winning play after winning play. He's a straight winner."
-- Steve Ivimey, co-director of AUSA Hoops
"Tobias comes from a great basketball family and has grown up around the game. He's got a great basketball IQ, and he knows how to play. He's a winner, and he's a guy who can do multiple things in our scheme. I'm thankful to AUSA and Pero Cameron for their trust in us. Tobias fits the culture we're building on the floor and in the locker room, and I believe he'll have a great four-year career for us."
— ACU head coach Joe Golding
TEVIN FOSTER
6-0 • 175 • PG • Lawton, Okla.
• Shot 89% from the free throw line and 38.7% from 3-point line, 2016-17
• Averaged team-high 13.8 ppg for Drury, leading the Panthers to an 18-10 record, 2016-17
• Second team all-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection, 2016-17
• Played at Labette (Kan.) Community College before transferring to Drury
• Averaged 20.1 ppg and shot 42.3 % from 3-point line at Labette, 2014-15
• Played in all 12 games at defensive back as a freshman football player at South Dakota, 2013
• Finished the season with 21 total tackles, one fumble recovery and one INT, 2013
"I'm looking forward to testing my skills at the NCAA Division I level. Hopefully I can be another piece to the puzzle that gets this team to the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy and, hopefully, beyond. I'm looking forward to getting to Abilene and getting to know my new teammates and getting this season started."
— Tevin Foster
"Tevin has great experience and maturity, and both of those are things we need on the floor and in the locker room. I love the fact that he's played football at the NCAA Division I level and brings that toughness to our team. He's a great shooter from 3-point range and does a good job getting to the free throw line and making them when he gets there. Tevin is a winner and he wants to find a role here and help us win in 2017-18. I'm really glad he trusted us and gave his one year of eligibility to ACU."
— ACU head coach Joe Golding
