By Matt Browning

Eli Sawyers of Southeast of Saline was voted the Salina Area Preseason Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Sawyers was a first team all-league selection last season for the Trojans, where he averaged 16 points and six rebounds.

Most athletes at Southeast of Saline play football in the fall, but Sawyers is not one them. He and the few others have long been preparing for the upcoming season.

“This fall I have been training in the lab three to five times a week with several of my teammates who do not play football,” Sawyers said. “I also have been in the weight
room lifting.”

Sawyers, who is already a well-decorated Southeast of Saline basketball player, has several other accomplishments he wants to get taken care of.

“The main expectation is for us to win state,” Sawyers said. “I would like to reach 1000 points as well as get a few college offers.”

Being a prolific scorer, Sawyers still has areas he would like to improve.

“I want to improve my three point shooting,” said Sawyers, who shot 30 percent from behind the arc last season.

At this point, Sawyers is planning on playing basketball in college, but is not sure where at this time. He wants to major in Business Marketing.