Former Central basketball player Darnell Wilks joins Harlem Globetrotters

Darnell Wilks made his mark for two years playing basketball in Cape Girardeau.

Wilks now is making his mark on a much bigger stage as a member of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters.

Wilks, who attended Central High School as a sophomore and junior, is part of the Globetrotters' 10-player rookie class that is preparing for the team's 2012 World Tour.

"I'm having a great time. I'm excited," Wilks said during a recent telephone interview.

Wilks, who completed a four-year college career at the University of Cincinnati last season, said he first attracted the attention of the Globetrotters after an impressive performance at the 2011 College Slam Dunk Championship.

Darnell Wilks dunks during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament during his junior season at Central in 2005. (Southeast Missourian file)

The 6-foot-7, 205-pound Wilks was edged out in the semifinals of the dunk contest despite a near-perfect round of 49. Two players had perfect 50s.

"After I did the contest, my name was floating out there," Wilks said. "They [the Globetrotters] asked me if I wanted to come to a tryout."

Wilks was impressive enough at the tryout that he was selected in the Globetrotters' 2011 draft in June.

"I was superexcited," Wilks said. "I knew I'd be doing something I love."

Central years

Wilks, who turned 23 early this month, said he grew up in a military family that moved a lot.

Wilks said he was born in Miami but spent much of his younger years in Clarksville, Tenn., which is less than an hour outside Nashville.

Then came a move to Cape Girardeau during Wilks' sophomore year of high school. He played two seasons at Central, including a standout junior campaign in 2005-06 that saw him average 19 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Wilks said he enjoyed his time in Cape Girardeau, but he played his senior year at Pioneer Christian Academy in Nashville, where he was rated among the nation's top 100 players, after his family returned to Tennessee.

Wilks, who was recruited by numerous major college programs, picked Cincinnati. He never was a star, averaging 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game during his career, but he did make 11 starts and helped the Bearcats reached the third round of the NCAA tournament last season.

"That was great times," Wilks said about playing at Cincinnati, where he averaged 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds as a senior. "If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now."

Always a fan

Wilks said he attended a Globetrotters show as a middle-schooler in Clarksville, Tenn.

"I always liked them," he said. "I never thought I'd be playing for them."

Wilks recently completed training camp with the Globetrotters, including doing a show for children in the New York area, and now is living back at home with his mother in the Clarksville area before the Globetrotters' 2012 World Tour begins.

The North American leg of the tour will tip off Dec. 26. The Globetrotters will play nearly 270 games in more than 230 cities in 46 states.

"I might wake up in a different city every day," Wilks said.

The Globetrotters have three different teams for their tour, meaning the same players do not make every stop.

As the schedule would have it, Wilks won't be coming to Cape Girardeau when the Globetrotters appear here in early January.

"I still talk to a couple of people who live there," Wilks said. "They asked me if I was going to be at the show there. I was hoping. ... It would be nice to go back."

So local fans won't be able to catch Wilks' signature plays -- throwing down massive dunks from all angles befitting his nickname of "Spider."

"I'm a high flier. That's my specialty," he said.

Tickets on sale

Tickets for the Globetrotters' Jan. 4 appearance at the Show Me Center are on sale. The event begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Show Me Center box office or by phone at 651-5000. Prices start at $19.