This West Hartford 4th-Grader Definitely 'Got Game'

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Nine-year-old Sawyer Hawthorne wasn't around to watch the NBA's biggest stars of the 1970s and 1980s, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming an expert on their careers.

The West Hartford fourth-grader can recall decades-old NBA draft selections, identify players by the jersey numbers they've worn, and explain how trades affect teams across the league.

Now, his passion for basketball has landed him a starring role in a national commercial celebrating the start of the NBA season, which is set to get underway Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Sawyer, a student at Aiken Elementary School, appears on camera and provides the voice-over for a new NBA and Fanatics commercial scheduled to debut with the NBA Champion New York Knicks' season opener at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night on NBC.

The commercial was filmed at New York City's West Fourth Street basketball courts, commonly known as "The Cage," where Sawyer played alongside adult basketball players.

For a youngster who spends much of his free time studying basketball history and practicing his own skills, the experience brought together two of his growing interests: basketball and acting.

"Working with the NBA and Fanatics was awesome," Sawyer said to Patch. "Everyone on set was so nice, and there were other kids on set I got to hang out with in between scenes. They let me keep the Brunson jersey and the Jordan sneakers after we got done, which I wasn't expecting."

A Basketball Fan Beyond His Years

Sawyer's love of basketball began during visits to his grandparents' home in Southington, where he watched Boston Celtics games and occasionally was allowed to stay up late to see the action.

That early interest developed into a fascination with NBA history that extends well beyond the current season.

His mother, Bethany Boutin of West Hartford, said Sawyer follows teams throughout the league, remembers draft selections and jersey numbers, and understands how player trades affect different franchises.

Although he likes the Knicks, his basketball interests aren't limited to one team or generation.

Some of his favorite players competed decades before he was born.

When Sawyer wakes up early, his family often finds him watching YouTube highlights of NBA games from the 1970s through the 2000s.

His enthusiasm also carries over to the basketball court.

Recently, Sawyer learned he was one of 11 fourth-graders selected for the West Hartford boys basketball travel team.

That combination of basketball knowledge and on-court ability helped him earn a spot in the national advertising campaign.

From West Hartford to The Cage

Sawyer's commercial appearance is part of a modeling and acting career his mother began helping him develop in February.

Boutin said she worked to build his portfolio and eventually secured representation for him with Stellar NYC, a New York-based agency specializing in children.

The agency submits Sawyer for potential roles, while Boutin also looks for opportunities that might suit him.

Since the spring, Sawyer has booked six jobs, including work for a hotel and hospitality brand, two children's product photo shoots, a Scholastic Books campaign, an independent film, and the NBA commercial.

For the basketball campaign, Sawyer's submission included video footage demonstrating his skills on the court.

According to Boutin, the casting director said Sawyer stood out among hundreds of applicants because of his advanced ball-handling, dribbling, and shooting abilities, along with his relatable appearance.

Those skills helped him land a role that required more than simply appearing in front of the camera.

Sawyer also recorded the commercial's voice-over, adding another experience to his growing résumé.

The production brought him to The Cage, a well-known outdoor basketball venue in Manhattan's Greenwich Village.

There, the West Hartford youngster played alongside adults while filming scenes for the campaign.

The commercial is part of the NBA's partnership with Fanatics, which operates the league's official online merchandise store and produces and distributes licensed basketball apparel and other products.

Learning Lessons Beyond Basketball

For Boutin, watching her son take part in a national advertising campaign has been rewarding, but she said the benefits extend beyond professional opportunities.

She said she believes Sawyer's modeling and acting experiences are helping him develop skills that will serve him in school and throughout his life.

Those experiences have included auditions, working with production teams, and learning to respond to feedback, as well as navigating trips between Connecticut and New York City.

Meanwhile, Sawyer continues to balance his budding entertainment career with fourth-grade youth basketball and his fascination with the NBA's past and present.

His mother couldn't be more proud.

"It has been so fulfilling to see the ways that modeling has helped Sawyer grow—learning how to accept rejection in healthy, managed ways, listening to directors' feedback, expressing a range of emotions in voiceover work, and even learning to navigate Metro-North and the NYC subway. We feel these life skills are a great way to augment the wonderful things he learns in the 4th grade," Boutin said.

To watch Sawyer's national commercial, click on this link.