Auburn's famous athletes include Bo Jackson, Cam Newton and, of course, Sir Charles.

So here's something pretty big: Charles Barkley, who starred at Auburn from 1981-84, is going to be honored by his alma mater with a statue. The school made the announcement over the weekend. It will be housed outside the basketball arena, right there on campus, and he will become the fourth player in Tigers history -- the first basketball one -- to get a statue. (Heisman Trophy winners Jackson, Newton and Pat Sullivan being the others.)

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Barkley during his college days in the early '80s. Getty Images

"It just means a great deal to me," Barkley said in an Auburn press release. "Being a kid from Alabama, going to Auburn. I think everybody knows what Auburn means to me. It's going to be pretty cool."

Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl said Barkley "deserved the honor."

This is great -- watch as Barkley learns of the statue while attending Auburn's home football game against Arkansas over the weekend. Bo Jackson makes the announcement on the video board.

Barkley was an All-American while at Auburn. He was so good, he was selected to play for the 1984 national basketball team in the Olympics. Barkley transcended basketball positions. He was 6-foot-4, yet played center for the Tigers. He averaged 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks in his college career and won SEC Player of the Year in 1984. His career field goal percentage of 62.2 is a program record. Auburn retired his jersey, No. 34, 15 years ago.

Barkley made news in 2010 when he publicly admitted taking money from NBA agents while at Auburn. The statute of limitations for any type of NCAA penalty had long since passed. Barkley, who works for Turner Sports and contributes to CBS and Turner's coverage of the NCAA Tournament every season, remains one of the most outspoken advocates for college players' right to be paid.