By Rubin E. GrantVestavia Hills captured the 2023 Class 7A state baseball championship, ending a 23-year drought without a title for the Rebels, but please don’t call them defending champions this season.At least that’s the viewpoint of Vestavia Hills coach Jamie Harris.“I’m not sure you can say we’re defending champs,” Harris said. “If we had all the guys from last … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantOak Mountain senior Emma Hawkins couldn’t help but become an athlete and, in particular, a softball player.Her mother, C.J. Urse Hawkins, played softball at Ohio State and won more than 900 games as a high school coach at Clay-Chalkville and Spain Park.But coach Hawkins didn’t insist that her daughter become a softball player. It just naturally … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantBucky McMillan’s mobile phone was blowing up for most of last week. He received more than 2,000 text messages and countless other phone calls.That’s what happens when you are the men’s basketball coach at Samford University and you lead the Bulldogs to their first appearance in the Big Dance since 2000.“It’s been a crazy week,” McMillan said.The … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantKhloe Ford didn’t expect to become one of the top young girls basketball prospects in the state.She had grown up playing softball and figured her athletic future was on a diamond, not a court.Then, Ford hit a growth spurt in middle school and her parents persuaded her to play basketball.Now a 6-foot-3 sophomore at Hoover High School, Ford is … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantHoover junior center DeWayne Brown is a firm believer in hard work.Ask him how the Bucs were able to repeat as Class 7A boys basketball state champions and finish with a 30-3 record, he’ll say hard work.Ask him how he was able to expand his shooting range beyond the 3-point arc, he’ll tell you hard work.Ask him how he was able to average 15.5 … [Read more...]