It might be a good time to get tickets to the opener now.
Because when the Railsplitters play their first game next winter, it’s going to be a tough ticket to get.
Last year was supposed to be a coming-out party for Dahmir Fowlkes, at least in the Public League. The Abraham Lincoln High School junior starred at The Patrick School in North Jersey before transferring prior to the school year.
But he suffered a torn ACL while playing in a summer league with the Railsplitters. That wasn’t what kept him from playing this year, though.
“I had to get my insurance registered, so I couldn’t get an MRI right away, so I kept playing,” the 6-foot-6 swingman said. “I was playing through it and it was fine. I played in games and everything. But when we started practicing for the (high school) season, I tore my meniscus, too. That kept me from walking. I could walk, but not without a limp.
“That was in November, right before I had surgery. That was it. I couldn’t play. The pain from the knee wasn’t too bad, everything was great. I just wanted to play. I really wanted to get out there.”
The injury kept him from getting on the court, but it didn’t keep him away from the team. He attended every game and practice to help and support his teammates. The Railsplitters, who finished 14-11, made the Public League semifinals and also won a game in the state tournament when they knocked off Bensalem in the first round. They fell a game later to Methacton.
It was hard for Fowlkes to watch his team lose tough games, but it gave him incentive to keep working out for next year. He was also proud of the way his troops fought.
“They didn’t underachieve, they played hard and did good for the most part,” Fowlkes said. “The only thing I would say is there were games that they got off to slow starts, and that killed us. When you play good teams, you can’t do that because a good team won’t let you back in the game. You have to start with a lot of energy. But we did, and we played tough teams and played them close. And we played with a lot of heart.”
Bad news for the Public League is that Fowlkes is back and healthy. He’s also been cleared and he’s chomping at the bits to get back into action. He has a lot to prove his senior year, especially because while at his former school, he missed a large chunk of his sophomore year with a broken wrist.
Fowlkes isn’t the only one excited about his debut.
“Everyone at school keeps asking me when am I gonna start playing,” Fowlkes said. “Everyone is excited. People really want to see me play. I swear, our first game next year, it’s going to be a sellout. When I played at St. Pat’s, everyone would go to the games, moms, grandmoms, friends, everyone would be there. I think that’s how we’re going to be next year. People are going to want to watch us play.”
Fowlkes been preparing for the season as soon as he was cleared. But shortly after he was given the OK to start working out, the world came to a halt thanks to the coronavirus.
Looks like you could consider Fowlkes essential personnel, because he hasn’t been binge watching TV since the shutdown. He’s been working. In fact, he’s been working harder than ever.
“I go out and shoot 500 shots, I do that twice a day and I run on the track,” said Fowlkes, who lives in Southwest Philadelphia. “We could play basketball, but there aren’t too many people around, so I’m trying not to. But I just play outside my house, that’s where I learned to play, I’m just still doing that.”
The hope for Fowlkes, who is getting a lot of attention from Division I schools and has already racked up a few offers, is to get some action in a summer league, assuming things are back to normal. Until then, he’s just staying ready. If he’s not reunited with his team until the season begins, he’ll be ready.
And he’s ready to put on a show.
“Everyone says that basketball in North Jersey is great, and it is, but I’m a product of my competition,” Fowlkes said. “No matter where I’m at, I’m going to play well. I’m going to do well. I like playing against the best competition. And the Public League, that’s good competition, too. We have a lot of good teams out there, but I think we should easily be able to win a championship if we do what we’re supposed to do.”
Bringing a Public League championship to Lincoln would mean a lot to Fowlkes because the school means so much to him.
Not only does he love his teammates, he loves everything about the school.
“I love Lincoln, I’m doing pretty good in school, too,” Fowlkes said. “I love playing for Coach (Jamel Lindsey), he’s such a good coach, You have a problem in basketball or life, he’s there. He’s so good. I tell anyone who wants to play basketball, you’re going to love playing for Mel. He’s such a good coach. He cares so much about everyone.
“I really hope I can win a championship at Lincoln. I think we can, too. I’m feeling better. I think we’re going to be really good. We have everything. We just have to do it.”
