IMG Academy (Fla.) standout Chase Foster, one of the top forwards in the 2026 class, has announced his commitment to the Pittsburgh Panthers. The 6-foot-8 Baltimore native chose Pitt over offers from Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Villanova, among others.
Foster, ranked No. 33 nationally, gives head coach Jeff Capel another major building block for the Panthers' future frontcourt. Known for his length, versatility, and ability to play inside or out, Foster is viewed as one of the more skilled and positionless forwards in his class.
"Knowing Capel dealt with a lot of high-level guys like Blake Griffin, Brandon Ingram, Marvin Bagley, and Justice Winslow, I believe I can be one of those guys," Foster told 247Sports. "He sees me as a really versatile guy who can come in and mix up the offense. He sees me as a guy who can play both the post and on the perimeter."
RELATED: Scouting Chase Foster and his fit at Pittsburgh
Foster also noted the connection he feels with former Pittsburgh star Bub Carrington, who, like Foster, hails from the Baltimore area.
"Bub (Carrington) being from the same area as me gives me a little bit of motivation," Foster said. "Knowing how his story was, I think I can use it as motivation."
The four-star forward said his relationship with the Pitt staff also played a major role in his decision.
"It's been good so far," Foster said. "I've been liking everything I've been hearing from the coaches and staff. To me, it seems like we have a very bright future."
As for what he hopes to bring to the program, Foster made his goals clear.
"I want to be one of those guys who come in and set the mark, showing everyone what I can do as a freshman," he said.
With his commitment, Foster becomes one of the highest-rated pledges in Pitt's 2026 class and a statement addition for Capel's staff as they continue to build momentum on the recruiting trail.
247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein provided the following scouting report on Foster.
“Foster is one of the more physically gifted forwards in the country. He's long, mobile, and athletic with an imposing frame that is cut-up and still has plenty of room to keep adding additional muscle mass. While his productivity and efficiency are trending in the right direction, he's still a high upside prospect who isn't close to peaking just yet.
Offensively, he's built to be a roller, finisher, lob threat, and big transition weapon, but has a tendency to hang out on the perimeter and try to prove his skill-set. There are definite flashes – his rhythm 3 is relatively clean, he can rise-up for pull-ups, and put the ball on the floor a bit – but he can be a bit wild and inefficient with his shot-selection and decision-making (42% FG, 24% 3pt, 1.9 assists vs. 2.6 turnovers), instead of fully asserting himself at the rim like he's capable of.
Defensively, he has clear weapons with his size, length, mobility, and leaping ability. Unsurprisingly, he has high playmaking metrics on that end (1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals), but can be undisciplined at times with his positioning, angles, and vision.
The bottom line is that Foster is immensely talented, with a combination of physical tools and developing skill that gives him a very high upside. He's trending in the right direction, but needs to keep getting stronger and improving while simultaneously being efficient with his overall approach.”