Vanderbilt’s Shan Foster has an ear for music. “If I hear it, I can play it,” says the self-taught pianist.

He’s also got an eye for the basket. If he sees it, he can make it, which is what the 6-6 senior has done more often than not during his remarkable basketball career.

On the court, Foster plays string music. Off it, the notes are more melodic – and in some instances, inspirational.

Take the case of Kelly Finan, a Vanderbilt coed and a “Memorial Maniac,” the student support section that makes Vandy’s Memorial Gym a challenge for opponents. When a stroke two years ago put her life in jeopardy, Foster was among a contingent that helped her recover.

“Kelly was literally fighting death,” Foster said. “I had the team sign a poster, and I did a video in which I said a few words, sang a song and played the piano for her and her family. By the grace of God, she fought through it and is alive and well.”

But the relationship didn’t stop there. Now in a wheelchair, Finan asked Foster to support her involvement with the Susan Gray School, an on-campus facility devoted to educational research involving socioeconomically at-risk children with developmental disabilities. With financial support from Vandy athletics, the pair orchestrated a fund-raiser that provided a playground for the school.

“I’m big on showing people that we appreciate them,” Foster said. “Our student section does a great job at every game. I wanted to show that I appreciated them and was able to give back.”

Foster backs up the talk. In addition to being the student chair at the Gray School, he mentors five teenagers in the Nashville area and appears regularly at primary and secondary schools to sing and speak to youth.

“There are a lot of things more important than just basketball,” he said. “Basketball obviously means a lot to me, but if I can use basketball as an avenue to be a blessing to other people, then that’s even better.”

Foster’s interest in music comes from a lifelong religious affiliation. He sang in the choir, and played drums and guitar. “Anything that made a noise I tried to do it,” he said. His mom bought him a keyboard in high school. When he wasn’t playing basketball or video games, he was tickling the ivories.

The common denominator in his athletic, musical and religious pursuits is his work ethic. His favorite scripture in fact is from Ephesians 3:20: “Now unto him that is able to do, exceeding abundantly above all that we could ever ask or think, according to the power that worketh within me.”

That’s not far from his favorite nonspiritual slogan, which is: “To be the best, you have to outwork the best.”

Whether Foster calls upon the power that worketh within him or simply outworks his opponent, count on him being a success at whatever he does.

Foster wins Lowe’s Senior Class Basketball Award.

Trevor Brown Jr., NCAA Photos.