Will Foster knows the looks are coming. People will stare, they always do.

That’s reality for a 7-foot-5 man.

“When I go out in public, sometimes it gets on your nerves,” he said. “My friends will say, ‘That’s got to be really annoying, people staring at you.’ It can get to you ... but I try to think of it as a gift and enjoy it every day.”

That gift has led to some good times and bad times on the basketball court, and Idaho Stampede coach Randy Livingston is hoping there are plenty of good times ahead for Foster on his NBA Developmental League team.

Idaho opens the season against Tulsa on Friday and Saturday nights at CenturyLink Arena.

“I think he’s earned a spot on our roster, and I think he’s going to make a difference for us before the season is over,” Livingston said. “I’m not comparing him to the Mark Eatons of the world or the Yao Mings, but I think he moves better than both of those guys, in terms of running up and down the court.”

Still, Livingston’s expectations are modest, as Foster played only a limited role during his four years at Gonzaga from 2006 to 2010.

“We’re not developing Shaq here,” said Livingston, who begins his second season as Idaho’s coach. “We look at him as a project and somebody we’re going to work with. This is a development league, and hopefully we can use him to rebound and protect the rim.”

Foster averaged a little more than 7 minutes per game as a senior at Gonzaga, and that was the most playing time during his four years at the school. He averaged 1.3 points and 1.5 rebounds a game during his 78-game career.

“There was a lot of frustration,” Foster said. “It’s a great program, but I found out I didn’t fit into their system.”

Boise State coach Leon Rice was an assistant at Gonzaga when Foster played for the Bulldogs.

“Guys just mature at different levels,” Rice said. “We knew his best basketball was going to be at 24, 25, 26 and beyond.”

That’s why Rice can understand why Livingston is willing to take on Foster as a D-League project.

“It’s a good investment for the Stampede,” Rice said. “Will is all about potential. He oozes with potential.”

And the 23-year-old Foster is the first to admit he still has plenty of work ahead.

“Everything,” he replied when asked what he needed to improve. “My hands, my feet. A lot of the game for me is mental. There are games where I do really well, but there are others where it’s one mistake after the other ... and I hate screwing up.”

That’s why he can be seen on YouTube reacting with a big fist pump after making a free throw at Gonzaga. He shot 17 percent from the line during his senior year.

“I have a few on YouTube,” he said. “There’s a really good one (the fist pump) and a really bad one (two air balls). ... Again, it’s a mental thing. I worked at it a lot after college, and I think I was at 73 percent in Portugal (where he had a short stint as a pro after graduating).”

In training camp with the Stampede this year, Foster has been focusing on other aspects of his game.

“Defense is my main concern,” he said. “Rebounding, and altering and blocking shots. Anything on the offensive end is a bonus.”

Foster said he has a good example in teammate Jason Ellis, the 6-foot-7 forward who made a name for himself at Boise State and with the Stampede as a hard-working rebounder.

“Jason Ellis is an absolute animal,” Foster said. “He doesn’t even jump to get a rebound. He just kind of shoves me out of the way. So, I definitely need to get stronger.”

And perhaps he will. Perhaps down the road Foster will be able to combine his raw talent with Ellis’ desire and ability.

“That,” teammate Kevin Galloway said, “would be a monster.”

Chris Langrill: 377-6424