Myron Brown hasn't played competitive basketball for three months, a gap that, for him, constitutes some type of record.

Brown, 35, who starred for the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team from 1987-1991, is taking a year off from playing professional basketball.

"This year, I'm not playing. I may play another year, but basically, I might be done," said Brown.

"When you're young, you think you can play forever, you can play until you're 40. The older you get, the wiser you get. When you get 11 or 12 years out of a career, you have to be happy about it," Brown added.

Brown spent last summer in the Venezuelan League, playing for Trotamundos de Carabobo.

Even there, Brown still had the magic touch.

Aside from averaging 4.7 steals per game, Brown help turn the team's fortunes before leaving.

"Our team made the playoffs and I left," said Brown. "They wanted me to play some games, then not play some games. We had three Americans and they used different players.

"When I got there, they were dead last and then we finished third. I figured the regular season was over, so I left. They ended up losing. I didn't feel I got the respect I deserved," Brown added.

Brown, who lives in Kennedy Township, Allegheny County, thrived at Sto-Rox High School before heading to SRU.

With The Rock, Brown scored 2,619 career points, which was a school and PSAC record.

Since the NBA went to a two-round draft back in 1989, only two players from the WPIAL have been drafted - Brown by Minnesota in 1991 and Danny Fortson (Shaler) in 1997.

"You could tell right away he would be a good professional player," said former SRU sports information director John Carpenter. "He was also a treat, personally and professionally."

In Brown's junior and senior years at SRU, the team won 46 games and scored 100 points in 25 of those contests.

"I did see an old highlight tape and that team was phenomenal," said current SRU basketball coach John Marhefka. "That was a great group of guys who think highly of The Rock.

"I wish I had a Myron Brown. I'd be a better coach if I had Myron," Marhefka added.

Minnesota selected Brown and his 45-inch vertical leap in the second round with the 34th pick overall, but he saw action in only four games before being released by the Timberwolves.

"I was disappointed," said Brown. "One, I got a guaranteed contract; two, I thought I proved my worth and thought I'd get a chance to play.

"Even now, I still believe I can play at that level," he added.

"Myron was a scorer, but you can be a scorer at 6-foot-2. But then look at a player like Latrell Sprewell who is 6-6," said Carpenter. "Myron still did well and made a nice living.

"Most of the good athletes at that level have their heads on straight. He was never too big for SRU. He never thought he was the best thing since sliced bread," Carpenter added.

Brown quickly hooked up with the Louisville Catbirds of the Continental Basketball Association for the remainder of their season, then spent the next four seasons with the Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Fury.Brown realized he didn't want to get trapped spending his career in the CBA."I wouldn't have played in the CBA if I had to do it over again, but in doing so, it did give me the opportunity to play in Europe," he said.After opening the 1996-97 season with Ft. Wayne, Brown finished the year with the Portland Wave of the USBL.After the CBA All-Star Game in 1996, Brown was flying back to Fort Wayne when the president of an Italian team was on the same flight."I ended up playing with them (Verona). After meeting me, that gave him the green light. They liked me as a player, and, after talking to him on the plane, they liked me as a person," Brown added.Brown, who played mostly at the two-guard spot in his career, averaged 13.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in his first season.He spent the 1997-98 season playing for Scavolini Pesaro, then the following year at Bini Viaggi Livornio.In 2000-01, he played for Francia Catene Castelmaggiore (19.1 points, 5.0 rebounds per game) and for Sicc Aurora Jesi in 2001-02 (14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals per game)."The better you play, the more likely you'll play for a better team," said Brown, who played for five different Italian teams in five years."The first year (in the Italian League) we won the European Cup. I thought I'd go back to the same team. Every team I played for I thought I would be going back," he added.Not everyone, though, ends up on the same team for years," Brown added.Brown spent November 2002 with a Midwest All-Star touring team, which played exhibition games against NCAA teams.Last spring and summer he played for Trotamundos de Carabobo but left before the playoffs."My agent always wanted me to play in the Venezuelan league in the summer," said Brown. "It was a summer professional league. It was nice and hot and a good brand of basketball."I did that a couple of different seasons," Brown added.Brown currently works for Pepsi as a driver and enjoys spending time with his wife, Ebony, and children, Jenai and Julian."The problem with my job is there's no consistency in getting off. Some days I work until 1 p.m. or 7 to 8 p.m."Jenai enjoys playing but doesn't have the skills of basketball to thrive."She does have a lot of intelligence," said Brown. "She speaks three languages: Italian, Spanish and English."Julian can handle the ball and loves the game. He loves all sports and he's a whippersnapper. It's great. Instead of me telling him let's go outside, he asks me to go. He's doing stuff you're not supposed to be doing at that age," Brown added.Brown would also like to get into coaching, perhaps at the college level, but is about 18 credits short of graduating.He has done some work with the SRU men's basketball team under Marhefka."That's a tough door to get into. I really think I could help the SRU program. I think if someone hires me, I could finish school while I work. It would be gravy for everyone," Brown added.When Brown makes his way up to the Slippery Rock area, he enjoys fishing."When I pass Slippery Rock once in a while, I like to fish the creek. I know a couple of places up there."Aside from coaching, Brown is still weighing the idea of returning to play."Everyone asks if I miss it," said Brown. "Not really. "I do miss the competition, but not the traveling. This is the first time I haven't played competitively in three months."The other day I ran around and got winded. That hasn't happened in a long time. I'm not out of shape, just a little tired."I just really miss the competitive part," he added."

THE BROWN FILE

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Name: Myron Brown

Age: 35

Family: Wife Ebony; daughter Jenai (12) and son Julian (3)

Sports Connection: In his basketball career at Slippery Rock University, he set PSAC and school records with 2,619 points scored. He was drafted by the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves in 1991; has played 12 seasons of professional basketball in the CBA, USBL, European and Venezuela leagues.