Muslim NBA Player New Book Tour Inspires Texas Kids
Basketballer Tacko Fall signs hundreds of copies for fans at North Dallas Islamic community center
Standing tall at 7 foot 6 inches Senegalese Basketball player Tacko Fall receives a rapturous welcome at MAS Islamic Center of Dallas this week, to read his co-authored children’s book “To New Heights”.
“We all have different struggles we all have things that we go through, and for me, those things helped me become who I am,” said Fall, who is currently playing with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.
“I just hope that me writing a book will help someone who might not be in a good place or has dreams they aspire to accomplish. Just know that for one it's possible and, two to not lose hope, especially young kids.”
Muslim American Society (MAS) Director of Community Outreach, Basheer Jones, and PR and Fundraising Director, Marwan Marouf were excited to invite Fall to their center.
“I'm stoked to have him here and for the young people to be able to see that you can go to the NBA and you can be not only big in size but also big in success and not forget God, this is what we want our young people to see,” said Jones.
Before the main event, Fall signed 200 copies of his book while spending time with young fans who had a million and one questions for the Muslim athlete they literally look up to.
MAS prepurchased copies, through funding provided by donations, to give to each family.
Many of the teenagers who volunteered for the event were avid sports fans and were aspiring to one day become professional athletes in the sport they love.
Mohamed Kamara, 17, a Senior at Newman Smith High School, plays basketball and hopes to one day make it to the NBA despite being 5-foot 7”.
“During basketball season when Ramadan comes, it's the toughest to fast and play at the same time but knowing somebody who has more experience going against harder opponents and knowing that they could do it, I could do it too,” said Kamara.
Zad Ahmed, 18, starting as a freshman at the University of Texas at Dallas in the fall, enjoys playing soccer and plans to play on a recreational team.
“I think it's something very inspirational because he's a role model that we can all look up to, the kids don't know the people here, they know the people on the news,” said Ahmed. “I think he's a good person, they'll recognize him, and he can talk us up a little bit.”
Fall’s agent and co-author, Justin Haynes, read aloud “To New Heights” and then they both answered questions from the audience about experiences unique to Muslim athletes.
Sports agent, Haynes approached Fall with the idea of writing a children’s book about his story of overcoming adversity, after reading similar books to his daughters each night before bed.
“There was a book on one or two things, but with Tacko there was a sixth thing, there was a seventh thing that he had overcome, and I said that we really have something special here,” said Haynes.
Growing up in Senegal, Fall was bullied for his size as he was taller than most of his peers throughout school. As someone who started playing basketball as a teenager, compared to as a child like so many NBA players, Fall had to work twice as hard to gain the skills.
During the Q&A session, a father of two boys who play soccer asked Fall about his experience with “locker room culture” as someone with Islamic morals. Others asked about the drive that it takes to become great at whatever they are passionate about.
After, families lined up to take a photo with Fall and receive their free, signed copy of “To New Heights”. Fans also brought personal items to have signed.
The book can be purchased on Amazon and an AMT short video on the event can be found here.
