Meet Eesher Singh Sarai, the first Canadian turbaned Sikh player to commit to NCAA Division I basketball, signing with Winthrop University in South Carolina. The 6-foot-9 forward is only the second turbaned Sikh player in modern Division I men’s basketball history.
For Sarai, basketball was never part of the original plan. Growing up in Surrey, he was a serious ice hockey player with dreams of going far as a goalie. Basketball was simply something he played for fun on his school team. Then, in Grade 9, he started dunking in games and realized he might have an opportunity to take the sport much further. “It was when I was in Grade 9 that I was able to start dunking in games that I realized that I was a bit of an outlier to my competition,” Sarai recalls. That realization eventually led him from Surrey to prep schools in the United States, through college basketball, and now to Winthrop University.
Sarai’s route to Division I was anything but straightforward. After graduating high school, he committed to a basketball prep school in Florida competing in The Grind Session, a competitive league that has featured numerous NBA prospects. He also played with Grassroots Elite, an AAU program known for developing high-level talent. Halfway through his prep year, he transferred to a school in Seattle, where he had more opportunities to play in front of college coaches. “I realized that Division I is my new goal to pursue,” he says.
His first college stop was Ellsworth Community College in Iowa, where he entered the NJCAA. The freshman season was difficult. Sarai averaged just four points per game and felt he was not contributing to his team at the level he knew he could. Instead of becoming discouraged, he turned the setback into motivation. “I felt that I wasn’t able to help impact winning for our team while I was on the court,” he says. During the offseason, he focused heavily on strength and conditioning, lifting weights four to five times a week while continuing to develop his basketball skills.
The work paid off. In his sophomore season, Sarai started every game, averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game, and helped Ellsworth reach the NJCAA national championship game. He earned All-Tournament Team recognition at the national tournament, along with All-Defensive Team honors. His performance eventually caught the attention of Division I programs, leading to his scholarship with Winthrop.
One of the biggest areas of development for Sarai has been his three-point shooting. Starting basketball later than many of his peers meant he had to work particularly hard to refine his shooting mechanics. “The part of my game that I worked my hardest to develop was my three-point shooting,” he highlights. That dedication produced results, with Sarai shooting 44 percent from three-point range in conference play during his most recent season. “I take a lot of pride in being able to shoot,” he shares, adding that seeing the work finally translate into results was especially rewarding.
Sarai’s breakthrough carries significance beyond statistics and scholarships. The star athlete understands that he is entering territory where few have gone before. “To be the first to do something gives you a great sense of accomplishment, although I try not to be too satisfied by it as I have aspirations to do more than just sign Division I,” he says. The achievement is something he is proud to share with his parents, who supported him throughout the journey. “I was extremely happy that I was able to do it for my parents due to the countless hours that they put in to help me get to where I am today.”
That support has been echoed by the wider community, with Sarai receiving countless messages from people congratulating him and expressing how proud they were. His accomplishments have extended beyond basketball as well. At Ellsworth, he received awards for Excellence in Humanities and Outstanding Business Student, in addition to the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Balancing academics with basketball has required another kind of discipline. During the season, his days can begin with early morning shooting before classes and continue through practice, weight training, recovery, and another basketball workout in the evening. Social activities often take a back seat. For Sarai, it is a sacrifice worth making.
Sarai is studying business finance and hopes to become an investment banker after his playing career, while continuing to pursue his goal of becoming a professional basketball player. In fact, he also wants to challenge the stereotype that basketball players are not academically driven. His own experience has shown him otherwise, with many of his teammates excelling in the classroom alongside their athletic commitments.
From a Surrey school gym to prep basketball in Florida and Seattle, from a difficult freshman season to an NJCAA national championship appearance, Sarai has built his journey one step at a time. Now, as he prepares to take the court at Winthrop, he has already made history. Undoubtedly, for Sarai, being the first is only the beginning. His next goal is not simply to break barriers, but to keep improving, pursue professional basketball, and show the next generation of young athletes that the path to the highest level can begin anywhere.
