A trio of Utah Tech Trailblazers men’s basketball players received All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) postseason honors and head coach Jon Judkins was named WAC Coach of the Year, according to a March 10 announcement by the conference.
The recognition comes after Utah Tech’s significant improvement in the regular season, where the team achieved an 11-win increase and finished third in the WAC standings. The Trailblazers had been predicted to finish sixth in the preseason poll.
Senior forward Ethan Potter was selected for the WAC First Team after leading the conference in rebounds per game (8.0), total rebounds (255), and field goal percentage (58.9). He also ranked second in points per game (16.3) and total points (522), setting single-season program records for both categories. Potter scored in double figures in 27 out of 32 games and recorded seven double-doubles during the season.
Sophomore guard Noah Bolanga earned Second Team honors, becoming only the second Trailblazer to do so. Bolanga averaged 12.3 points per game, ranking tenth in the conference, and placed among league leaders in three-point attempts, three-pointers made, minutes played, and rebounds.
Freshman guard Tanner Davis was named to the All-Freshman Team after averaging 7.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game across 31 appearances with 24 starts. Davis ranks seventh in steals within the WAC this season.
Judkins’ award marks his first career conference coach of the year honor at Division I level and seventh overall at Utah Tech, following six previous awards from his time coaching in Division II. He is also one of 25 finalists for the Hugh Durham Award given to top mid-major head coaches nationally.
The Trailblazers are set to open their WAC Tournament campaign on Thursday night at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas against either Abilene Christian or Tarleton State.
