Senior guard Corey Sawyer Jr. didn’t start out with basketball. Growing up, he played football in Florida because of his dad, Corey Sawyer Sr.

Sawyer Sr. was an All-American and national champion defensive back for Florida State University and got drafted in the fourth round to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1994 NFL Draft.

At the age of 7, Sawyer Jr. knew that wouldn’t be the path he follows. 

“I just realized I wanted to have my own name and my own path, and I had more fun playing basketball,” Sawyer Jr. said. “It was the best of both worlds. I’ll be able to do my own thing, my own branch of athletics.”

After playing football for six years, Sawyer Jr. transitioned to becoming a basketball player. He said there was an obvious difference between basketball players and football players playing basketball. 

“I was always the smallest,” Sawyer Jr. said. “Everyone was older, bigger, stronger than me. My dad put me in training, started working on shooting, dribbling and passing.”

The training paid off for Sawyer Jr.

In sixth grade, Sawyer Jr. was one of two sixth graders who made the varsity team. Then, he transferred to Masters Academy and was one of the few freshmen who made varsity.

Sawyer Jr. transferred to Masters because of the reputation of players they produce, he said. His high school coach Reggie Kohn played Division I basketball at University of South Florida and went overseas. Because of Kohn’s reputation, Sawyer Jr. knew his coach would help him get better.

“At a young age, you’re just running up and down the court,” Sawyer Jr said. “Our coach Reggie Kohn taught me patience, reads and how to be a leader and a captain. He taught me all phases of basketball and threw me in a cage with wolves.” 

During his sophomore year at Masters, Sawyer Jr. said he realized he could make basketball a career.

Sawyer Jr. started alongside three Division I players: Jose Placer, Joseph French and Tanner Rubio, who all played collegiate basketball. Placer is playing overseas in Puerto Rico, and French is overseas in Mexico. 

“I was playing against those who went to the NBA at 15, 16 years old, and I felt like I could hold my own,” Sawyer Jr. said. “So, when I get to their age, I’ll be at that same level.” 

Masters Academy molded Sawyer Jr.’s mentality by learning lessons he needed for his future with basketball.

“It was the foundation of who I am today,” Sawyer Jr. said.

During his junior year, Sawyer Jr. started talking to schools like Stetson, North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Southern, Tampa and Appalachian State. 

After high school, Sawyer Jr. went the prep school route during COVID-19. All 15 Division I offers he received were taken away from him due to an eligibility rule that allowed college seniors to go back to school. 

“I thought college may not be my route to play professionally,” Sawyer Jr. said. 

Sawyer Jr. then went to Puerto Rico to play in leagues with professional players.

Within his first year in Puerto Rico, Sawyer Jr. was dominating the league, averaging 27 points a game, and he started gaining attention. He was ranked the number one scorer on the island. 

Sawyer Jr. thought he was going to go pro immediately, but after a talk with agents and owners in Puerto Rico, he decided to go to college and give it a try.

He decided to go the junior college route and attended Cloud County in Concordia, Kansas. Sawyer Jr.’s initial plan was to play one year and leave. Sawyer Jr. got to campus late, and because of that, his coach did not start him right away.

“I’ve seen people quit, [get] kicked off, and that turned me into a different competitor,” Sawyer Jr. said.

After some time, he ended up starting after his coach called him. Sawyer Jr. was All-Conference but didn’t get an offer that suited him, so he went back for another year. 

After his second year at Cloud County, Sawyer Jr. had scheduled visits with Utah Valley, North Texas and Eastern Illinois. For Sawyer Jr., Eastern was his perfect match.

“Coach Marty [Simmons] called me and the conversation we had and the connection me and the coaching staff had, I truly felt like they didn’t just want me, [but] they needed somebody like me in their program,” Sawyer Jr. said. 

Sawyer Jr. was at the top of Simmons’ list of recruits and was the first one to commit in the 2023-2024 recruiting class.

For Sawyer Jr., his first year at Eastern felt like his freshman year at Cloud County.

“I’m new, a new staff [and] team, [and] I didn’t establish the leadership role I’ve always been on,” Sawyer Jr. said. “I’ve never been at the Division I level.”

Sawyer Jr. missed a game against Illinois State due to sickness, but he was available for the game against Kansas: a homecoming for him, but he didn’t play.

After a meeting with Simmons after the Kansas game, Sawyer Jr.’s competitive nature took over for the remainder of the season.

“The meeting was important,” Sawyer Jr. said. “A lot of guys would have given up [and] made excuses, but I’ve been through so much adversity. When we had that conversation, I knew what to do.”

Coming into the 2024-2025 season, Sawyer knew he was going to be a huge part of the team as one of seven returners.

“I was the most vocal,” Sawyer Jr. said. “I knew what coach [Simmons] expected, and that’s the role I took on myself because that’s the role I have been in throughout my life.”

In April, Sawyer Jr. suffered a torn meniscus and missed 14 games to start the season. Despite the injury, Sawyer Jr. remained a leader.

“I want to see everyone be successful, teaching the little things like, spacing and reads,” Sawyer Jr. said. “The same thing coach [Simmons] emphasizes to us, I’m emphasizing to coach to take the load off coach [Simmons].”

While Sawyer Jr. was out, junior guard Zion Fruster, a transfer, took his place.

“Corey [Sawyer Jr.] meant a lot as a leader, friend and teammate,” Fruster said. “He gave us motivation whenever it was needed and was a vocal leader on the court and off the court. My time being here, I respect him being a teammate and leader.”

Playing Division I basketball was a dream for Sawyer Jr., and he’s grateful for Eastern for the opportunity.

“To be able to play and to have trust from a staff and other DI players is something I couldn’t ask for much more,” Sawyer Jr. said.

Simmons said Sawyer Jr. left a good impact on the basketball program.

“He’s one of the best guys I had the opportunity to coach, and I’ll miss the heck out of him,” Simmons said. “Huge heart, really smart basketball player, fun to be around, great in the locker room, great ambassador. He’s what we want as a men’s Eastern Illinois basketball player to be like.”

Sawyer was great for the new guys on the team, helping them out however he could.

“He was the best teammate he could possibly be, staying positive with his injury and what he’s got going on and still being able to encourage and help us out from off the court,” graduate guard Artese Stapleton said. “Having him on the sideline was like having an extra coach for a lot of us trying to figure out what was going on.”

Sawyer Sr. wasn’t happy at first of Sawyer Jr.’s decision, but at the end of the day, he is happy for his son, especially being successful in the path he chose. 

After the 2024-2025 season, Sawyer Jr. will go to Puerto Rico to play professional basketball in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional with former NBA players DeMarcus Cousins, Will Barton, Danilo Gallinari, JaVale McGee and Derrick Williams. 

Earlier in the year, Sawyer Jr. got drafted by the Mets de Guaynabo who are coached by former NBA player J.J. Berea.

“I hope I’m leaving the blueprint on how to be a good leader, [and] to be a competitor,” Sawyer Jr. said.

Cameron Thomas can be reached at 581-2812 or at cathomas8@eiu.edu.