Local son, Theo Ratliff, went from high school standout at Demopolis High School, to college standout at Wyoming, to an NBA standout who has spent 13 years in the business, playing for several teams and making the NBA All-stars.

Though playing through an injury-filled career and battling back each time to again pick up a starting position on an NBA team, Ratliff managed to twice lead the league in rebounds and rack up enough block shots to rank fourth among active players, behind Dikembe Mutombo, Shaquille O&8217;Neal and Alonzo Mourning.

Ratliff is currently on the Boston Celtics roster, though he suffered an early season back injury that caused him to sit out the rest of the year. As he rehabs to get back to 100 percent, talks have begun to circulate about a possible trade for Ratliff, who said he doesn&8217;t worry about a trade as long as he can get back in the league and prove that he can overcome his injury and again dominate the paint.

With all of this Ratliff has still found time to contribute to the betterment of his hometown, helping to start the Theo Ratliff Center to encourage community activities. Ratliff has more recently been involved in work to expand the existing center, something he said has been in the works since the idea of a center first came about.

&8212; Brandon Glover