Caleb Foster grew up in Harrisburg, North Carolina — a suburb of Charlotte, close enough to Duke that the program’s shadow loomed over every pickup game and AAU tournament of his childhood. His father Michael was a North Carolina state trooper who later retired to follow Caleb across the country during his basketball journey. His mother sacrificed alongside them. When asked what motivated him, Foster kept it simple: "My family — my dad and how hard he works, my mom what she’s sacrificed for me to travel and play basketball my whole life basically."
Foster attended Hickory Ridge High School in Harrisburg through his sophomore year before transferring to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia — the legendary prep school that has produced over 40 NBA players, including Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo. At Oak Hill, Foster played under the legendary coach Steve Smith, who called him "the best point guard nationally in the 2023 class." He led the Warriors to a 32-8 record while averaging 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 53.2% shooting.
When Smith retired after Foster’s junior year, Foster transferred again — this time across the country to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. The move was about finding a regular high school experience after two years at a boarding school. He exploded as a senior, averaging 21.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, earning MaxPreps California Player of the Year honors. On the Nike EYBL circuit that summer, he was devastating: 28.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in the final session in Kansas City, and 25.2 points while shooting 44.4% from three at the prestigious Peach Jam.
None of it changed his mind. Foster had committed to Duke on September 16, 2021 — as a sophomore, before he’d even arrived at Oak Hill. He was the first player in the 2023 recruiting class to commit to the Blue Devils, pledging to Jon Scheyer before Scheyer had coached his first game. He chose Duke over Auburn, Louisville, Tennessee, Virginia, Clemson, Stanford, Illinois, and Wake Forest. When asked about his commitment as he bounced between schools and states, Foster never wavered. The Brotherhood called early, and he answered.