SAN MARCOS, Texas — The basketball hardwood at Texas State University is now known as Jeff Foster Court. It's a tribute to the most accomplished men's basketball player in school history, a guy who's never made it about himself.

"I would never have been in the NBA without this coaching staff, without these guys on this team," Foster said.

The court naming is another honor for Foster, who came to San Marcos with zero expectations in 1995.

“I really didn't have any desire to be in the NBA. I wanted to go get a finance degree. I wanted to go into business," Foster said. 

Plans changed when he blossomed into one of the nation's top rebounders his junior and senior seasons. Foster ranked third in the NCAA with 11.3 rebounds per game in 1998-99.

“We started to see scouts come to the games," Foster said. "But I always just kept my head down.”

Foster was picked in the first round of the 1999 NBA Draft. He proceeded to play 13 seasons in the league, all with the Indiana Pacers.

His No. 42 jersey was retired by Texas State in 2014. 

“He’s the most accomplished guy in the room, but he never shows that. He makes everybody feel special," said Texas State coach Terrence "TJ" Johnson. "He told each and every last one of those guys that it’s gonna say Jeff Foster Court, but when you look down there you should see your name.”

Foster's name was stamped on the Strahan Arena court last weekend as part of a celebration of the Bobcats 1996-97 team. It's still the Bobcats' last to make the NCAA Tournament. 

“We got hot at the right time. We gelled at the right time," Foster said. "When you do something like that, go to the NCAA Tournament, win a conference championship, it's a lifelong bond that can never be extinguished.”

With stories and laughter that come back to life like it was yesterday.

“Anytime you have a reunion of over a quarter of a century, great memories come back," Foster said. "You think of your youth. You think about how old you are. It’s just great to be back in Strahan with these guys.”

The humility of a legend who's still making it about others, even with his name bestowed on the home court.