After ‘legendary’ season, Borah’s Austin Bolt makes history with another award
Borah High senior Austin Bolt hauled in another award Thursday, one that puts him in a category all by himself.
After winning the all-classification state football player of the year award in the fall, the Gatorade Company named Bolt Idaho’s all-class basketball player of the year.
That makes him the first Idaho athlete to win the football and boys basketball awards in the same season since the award started in the 1985-86 school year.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior forward averaged a double-double for the third straight season, finishing with 19.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 2.1 assists per game. He carried Borah (22-5) to back-to-back 5A state championships, scoring a career-high 35 points in the state championship game and winning player of the year honors in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference.
“Austin Bolt is a difference-maker,” Timberline coach Travis Noble said in a news release. “We prepared more for him than any player in our league. I’ve seen him do things and I say, ‘How did that ever happen?’ He has a constant motor.”
Bolt, who is also Idaho’s reigning 5A 400-meter state track champion, signed to play tight end for the Boise State football program. In his first season at quarterback, he racked up 2,771 yards of offense and 36 TDs in 10 games last fall. He also played safety, finishing with 62 tackles and four interceptions. And he averaged 33.8 yards per kick return, returning two of them for touchdowns.
Boise State football coaches raved about his athleticism and competitive drive on signing day in February.
“He’s one of the most competitive guys I’ve ever seen,” Boise State tight ends coach Kent Riddle said. “… He’s the best football player in the state. He’s certainly one of the best, if not the best, basketball players in the state. He’s got a chance to set a state record in track in the 400.
“The guy, just whatever he does, he wins. And that’s probably the most impressive thing about him.”
Bolt is the fourth basketball player in Borah history to win the all-class player of the year award. Previous winners include Isaiah Wright (2013-14 and 2012-13), Rob Smith (1994-95) and Pete Eisenrich (1988-89).
Borah boys basketball coach Jeremy Dennis called Bolt “legendary” after he led the Lions to another state championship as the only returning starter from a year ago.
“He’s going to go down as one of the best athletes in the state of Idaho,” Dennis said. “He is probably the best athlete to come through Borah, that I know of. He’s an amazing, amazing talent. Hopefully he has a bright future and we see him down the road.”
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM.
