Malik is now a student assistant with the Dalton State men’s
basketball program and an employee of the Dalton Parks and
Recreation Department in Dalton. He will soon graduate with
a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in
Health and Wellness.
“My coach (Alex Ireland) always said, don’t let basketball use
you, use basketball. I think I have done that. I’m so thankful
for everyone who helped me to not only become a better
basketball player, but a better man. They made sure that
my mind was focused on the next step–what comes after
the game.”
“We were up and my teammate, Kingston Frazier, passed
me the ball. Then I saw my opponent come up behind me,
trying to block me. I went to dunk the ball, but as soon as I
jumped up, it felt like blood rushed up to my knee.”
������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Sherman Howze rushed out onto the court. “Malik’s knee
cap looked irregular,” says Sherman. “I suspected that he
had ruptured his patellar tendon, but that’s an uncommon
injury. I really hoped I was wrong.”
Sherman called orthopedic surgeon Mitch Frix, MD, for
assistance. Thankfully, even though it was a Saturday night,
������������������������������������������������������
“I just wanted to get back in the game,” says Malik. “My
adrenaline was rushing.” Unfortunately, when Dr. Frix
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
his patellar tendon.
Dr. Frix explained to Malik that the patellar tendon attaches
the bottom of the kneecap (patella) to the top of the
shinbone (tibia). When the patellar tendon is completely
torn, the tendon becomes separated from the kneecap. He
would not be going back in the game.
The next day, Dr. Frix performed surgery to reattach Malik’s
tendon. After the surgery, Malik underwent rehabilitation
assistance through Sherman Howze and Hamilton Sports
Medicine. After a lot of hard work, by August, Malik was
back playing basketball and dunking the ball!
Hamilton Medical Center����������������������������������������������������������������
trainers to local area schools and surrounding communities
for over 20 years. Currently, Hamilton’s athletic trainers
provide services to Dalton State College, Calhoun High
School, Christian Heritage, Coahulla Creek High School,
Dalton High School, Murray County High School, North
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������������
The staff at Hamilton Sports Medicine collaborate with
physicians, nurses, physical therapists, emergency medical
technicians (EMTs), and paramedics to provide injury
prevention, emergency care, medical treatment, and
rehabilitation services to student athletes. All of Hamilton’s
athletic trainers have graduated from a four-year accredited
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
licensed by the state of Georgia.