Background
Jeff was raised in Lakewood, Colorado, the son of Carl and Jay Fosnes.
Jeff was raised in Lakewood, Colorado, the son of Carl and Jay Fosnes.
At Wheat Ridge High School from 1969–1972, Fosnes was "regarded by many as the best basketball player in state annals. Garnering three years all state, he led the Farmers to two seconds and a third in the state tournament. Averaging over twenty points per game for his prep career, he scored thirty-five points in the first three quarters of the 1971 state title game versus
Mitchell." Fosnes was named a Sunkist High School All-American in 1972 alongside Robert Parrish and Quinn Buckner.
Fosnes joined the Vanderbilt Commodores in 1972 as a part of a historic freshman class, "Roy Skinner"s famed "F-Troop", a nickname coined by Nashville Banner sports editor Dudley "Waxo" Green." In 1974, Vanderbilt would win the Securities and Exchange Commission Championship.
Fosnes was an integral part of this team that included January van Breda Kolff, Butch Feher, and Joe Ford. Fosnes was selected to the National Collegiate Athletic Association All-Tournament Team in 1974, as the Commodores fell to Marquette and Notre Dame.
During the same year, Fosnes became Vanderbilt"s first Academic All-American, an accolade he would receive again the following year. Number other Vanderbilt basketball player would attain the honor until Bruce Elder in 1993.
Fosnes was honored as a First Team All-Securities and Exchange Commission selection by the coaches in 1975 and 1976.
The 1975 Trojan Classic at University of Southern California selected Fosnes as the tournament Most Valuable Player.
His career at Vanderbilt finished with a 15.5 Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company and.521 FG%.
Fosnes played in the 1976 East/West All-Star game in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Fosnes was coached in the game by Dean Smith and played with Quinn Buckner, Scott May, Mitch Kupchak, and Leon Douglas.
In 1976, Fosnes was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the 4th round, but chose to forgo the National Basketball Association in favor of medical school.
Fosnes finished his career as the second all-time leading scorer behind Clyde Lee with 1,579 points. He is currently 9th on Vanderbilt"s scoring list. His 1974-1975 scoring average of 22.1 Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company ranks tied-4th for the highest single season scoring average in Vanderbilt history.
Fosnes scored 39 points versus
Jacksonville University which ties him for the sixth highest scoring single game in Vanderbilt history. Fosnes currently ranks 3rd in career Made FGs with 651.
His 1974-1975 season of 238 Made FGs is the 4th highest total in Vanderbilt history. Fosnes followed up his basketball career by pursuing a medical degree at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
He was "one of eighty-three students selected from 6100 applicants".