By Ken Hansard

Dontae Sawyer, a senior combo guard for Parsons High, has helped the Vikings jump out to a 4-2 start, which includes a 2-0 start in the competitive SEK League. Sawyer appreciates the significance of that accomplishment, but he has set much loftier goals, “I am looking for the league title, and we are optimistic that we can make a good run to state this year.”

After being nominated as an Honorable Mention candidate last year, Sawyer also feels that he is ready to take the next step individually, “I’d really like to make First-Team All-State.” Sawyer, who has already dropped 31 points on Fort Scott earlier this season, should definitely be on a lot of coaches’ radars in that respect.

However, Sawyer understands that, as a senior, his value to his team extends far beyond scoring, “I see my role as a team player and someone who helps get his teammates open – someone who will make the right play at the right time. I’m also a very good shooter who will mostly hit shots when left open. Scoring is not something that I think about a lot; I just know I can get points if we need them.”

In order to continue to evolve and be the type of leader the Vikings need to get to the next level, Sawyer says that he worked a lot on his mental game during the offseason, “I want to lead the team in positivity. I think one challenge might be staying consistent, but our team plays very well together. We have been playing together since we were little, so we enjoy coming together and sharing a common goal.” With Sawyer’s leadership, and the help of a strong supporting cast, the Vikings are right on track to achieve those goals.

After high school, Sawyer plans to continue his basketball career at a junior college, where he would like to pursue a future in business.