Georgetown will get Brunner on the rebound

Sporting News, The, August 18, 1997 by Mike DeCourcy

Kenny Brunner left Georgetown a couple weeks back and headed home to California. There is no need, though, for the program's many learned fans to panic. "He will be a Hoya next year," says Russell Otis, his coach at Compton's Dominguez High.

While Brunner was attending a college preparatory class at Georgetown -- which ended in late July -- he learned from coach John Thompson he had been released from the letter of intent he signed with Fresno State and was free to play for the Hoyas in 1997-98.

"There was animosity on my part," Brunner says of Fresno State. "I never was angry at them. I needed to move on, and I hope they understand why I felt I had to leave." A 5-10 point guard who led his team to two state titles and ranked among the nation's best high school seniors, Brunner but Brunner's choice of Georgetown eliminated that concern. Aside from an emphasis on pressure defense, there isn't much in common between the two schools Brunner chose. They are on opposite coasts, and their coaches' personalities could not be more distinct. At both places, though, Brunner was looking at serious competition for a starting job and signed up, anyway.

Fresno recruited 6-1 Rafer Alston from junior college at the same time, and it was generally acknowledged he would have first crack at the job. Then, Brunner picked a school in Georgetown that had a returning starter at the point, and a sophomore at that. Ed Sheffey averaged 8.7 points and 3.5 assists and made 35 3-pointers in his first season.

Brunner expects Sheffey will be used some at shooting guard, because Victor Page left school early and recruit Anthony Perry is still working to establish eligibility.

"I chose Georgetown with Ed Sheffey there because I wanted to be in an environment where if anything went wrong, there was another guard I could go to," Brunner says. "I'm going to be thrown into the fire and will be expected to play, but Sheffey knows a lot, and he'll be able to help. Never did I not think I was going there to start."

When Brunner was released, he became the second high-profile Californian to escape a letter of intent this year, following UCLA recruit Schea Cotton. Beth DeBauche, director of the National Letter of Intent program, says each case is judged individually but suggests, "The view of the letter maybe has changed. ... It's probably a different era."

Brunner's crackling energy can be inspiring to a team. He is the best defensive point guard to enter college in years. And he is working on his previously sporadic shot two hours every day. While at Georgetown, he played summer ball in the Kenner League, on a team with fellow recruit Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, a 6-11 center originally from Cameroon, and future teammate Boubacar Aw. They were 8-0 when Brunner departed.

"It was a great experience for him," Otis says. "Even in the short period of time, you can see somewhat of a change. If that's any indicator, he's going to fare pretty well at Georgetown. He was out there basically on his own. ... He had to grow up, be a man."