BOSTON-Friday, Utah men’s basketball sophomore forward Timmy Allen was named to the mid-season watch list for the Lute Olson Award.

The native of Mesa, Ariz. is one of only eight student-athletes nationwide added to this prestigious watch list, which honors the top player in Division I men’s college basketball.

Allen leads the Utes with 21.1 points (18th nationally) and 7.9 rebounds per game on the season and is shooting 50 percent from the field (102-204) and 77.2 percent (88-114) at the foul line.

The winner of this award will be announced in April at Atlanta, the site of the NCAA Tournament men’s Final Four.

Allen and his Utes teammates return to action Sunday afternoon at Boulder, Colo. to battle the Colorado Buffaloes.