KANSAS CITY, Mo.-Thursday, former Wasatch High School boys basketball star and University of Utah men’s basketball standout Eli Ballstaedt was among five in the Runnin’ Utes program to receive recognition from the 2023 National Association of Basketball Coaches honor roll.

Ballsteadt’s fellow academicians on the Utah squad last season to be honored include senior forward Ben Carlson, senior guard Rollie Worster, graduated senior Jaxon Brenchley (a Ridgeline High School product) and junior guard Mike Saunders Jr. who previously starred at Wasatch Academy.

To be eligible for this prestigious distinction this past season, players must

1. Academically, be a junior, senior or graduate student during the 2022-23 academic year
2. have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher at the conclusion of the academic year
3. must have been on the varsity roster in 2022-23
4. players with four-year colleges with at least one NABC member on the staff are eligible.

Ballstaedt averaged 1.5 points and 0.7 rebounds per game last season for the Runnin’ Utes.