Charles Barkley was born 51 years ago on this day in Leeds, Alabama

As Hillcrest High School’s sixth-ranked varsity boys basketball team heads to the regional tournament today (Thursday) in Dothan, I’m reminded of some prophetic words someone spoke months ago.

It was on a Friday night, and the date was Nov. 15, just minutes before the Jags tipped off the 2013-2014 season against their first opponent of the year, Central-Hayneville. I was standing at the end of the bleachers in the gym at Hillcrest, chatting with Hillcrest assistant coach Derek Korbe, who also coaches at Repton Junior High School. I’ve known Derek for about as long as I’ve worked in Evergreen, and I’ve come to learn that he’s a really smart guy, who knows what he’s talking about. When he’s got something to say, more often than not, it pays to listen.

On this particular night, as we stood there watching Hillcrest and Central go through their warm-ups, Korbe took a long look at Hillcrest’s players and said something that’s hard to forget.

“This team right here is going to be really good,” he said in reference to the Jags. “They’re going to win 4A. Don’t be surprised if they go all the way to state.”

Korbe arguably knows Hillcrest’s team about as good as any coach in the county, with the exception of Hillcrest head coach Tommy Dukes, because Korbe coached many of them (and coached against many of the others) in junior high basketball.

As Hillcrest travels to the regional tournament today in Dothan, they’ll have the opportunity to prove Korbe correct as they face the best 4A talent in the state. Everyone here at The Courant is wishing them luck as they represent the county this week at regionals. Hopefully, this time next week, we’ll be wishing them luck as they get ready to play in the state tournament in Birmingham.

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While we’re on the subject of basketball, today – Feb. 20 – is Charles Barkley’s 51st birthday.

“Sir Charles” was born on this day in 1963 and is arguably the greatest basketball player ever produced by the state of Alabama. Barkley played high school ball at Leeds High School, which is about 10 miles outside of Birmingham. From there, he went to Auburn University, where he played three seasons before leaving early to enter the 1984 NBA draft, which was one of the most historic drafts in the history of the league.

The Philadelphia 76ers made Barkley the fifth overall pick in the first round. Other well known players in that draft included No. 1 pick Hakeem Olajuwon, No. 3 Michael Jordan and No. 16 John Stockton. Barkley went on to play eight years for the 76ers, four years for the Phoenix Suns and four years for the Houston Rockets before retiring in 2000.

Anyone who knows anything about Barkley knows that he is a colorful character, and he’s even kicked around the idea of running for Alabama governor. To say the least, that would be interesting, and, while such a campaign could turn the governor’s race into more of a three-ring circus than it already is, Barkley would probably get a lot of votes or even win.