7Buena Vista, Va. – The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its 2024-25 All-Conference awards for men's basketball, with Southern Virginia's Eli Ballstaedt earning Player of the Year honors. The Senior guard becomes the first player in program history to receive the prestigious award.
Ballstaedt, a native of Midway, Utah, had a dominant season, averaging 18.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Against USA South opponents, he elevated his performance even further, scoring 18.9 points per game while adding 5.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals. His stellar play throughout the season earned him First Team All-Conference recognition, and he was named USA South Player of the Week three times.
In his short time with the Knights, Ballstaedt has already made his mark in the program's record books. He now ranks first in Individual Single-Season Records for Free Throws Made (134) and second in points per game (18.7).
Joining Ballstaedt in the conference honors, Tillman Johnson was named to the Second Team All-Conference after a strong season. Johnson led the USA South in defensive rebounds with 141 while ranking second in minutes per game (35.9) and eighth in scoring (13.7 points per game).
Tyler Kartchner was also recognized, earning a spot on the USA South Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship Team for his leadership and exemplary conduct on and off the court. Kartchner was a key contributor for the Knights, finishing third in the conference in field goal percentage (61.7%), the second-highest individual season mark in program history, while also ranking fifth in rebounds per game (7.0).
With multiple players earning All-Conference recognition, Southern Virginia continues to solidify its presence in the USA South, setting the stage for a highly anticipated postseason matchup against North Carolina Wesleyan University in the USA South Semifinals on Thursday, February 27th, at 7:00 PM in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
For all the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University men's basketball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_hoops on Instagram.
