Columnist Steve Carp: Another star flames out too early

Steve Carp

Tuesday, May 26, 1998 | 11:07 a.m.

IF HE WEREN'T such a tragic figure, you could feel some sympathy for Kenny Brunner. But given he had all that talent and threw away his life, it's hard to feel sorry for him.

The one-time prized point guard who was going to start for Jerry Tarkanian next season sat Monday in the Parker Center jail in downtown Los Angeles. Brunner was awaiting arraignment on charges of armed robbery after allegedly sticking a gun in the stomach of Los Angeles City College coach Mike Miller demanding money.

This on the heels of being part of that samurai sword incident two months ago in Fresno when he and Avondre Jones allegedly beat and robbed an acquaintance of Jones'.

Brunner became persona non grata in Fresno and opted to submit his name for the upcoming NBA draft. But he apparently never got to the paperwork. Suffice to say he won't be wearing anyone's gear come October, unless you consider the orange jumpsuits of the L.A. County Jail gear.

This was a kid with talent, but apparently not much in the way of smarts. Or maybe he thought he was too smart for his own good. You're not going to be able to make it to the top using swords and guns. That's why the jails are overcrowded throughout America, because too many believe there's an easy way to get what they want.

Brunner had been a star in L.A., leading Dominguez High in Compton to the California state championship in 1996. Everyone wanted him because, as they say these days, he had game.

Eventually, Brunner opted to go back East, to Georgetown, to John Thompson, that great molder of men. Thompson has been known to eliminate a character flaw or two over the years.

Apparently, he couldn't reach Brunner, and the Hoyatollah let Brunner go where Jerry Tarkanian hoped he could get through to the troubled youngster.

Tark didn't fare any better. In fact, it was in Fresno where things really unraveled at the seams for Brunner. It got to the point where the situation was irrevocable after the incident with Jones, and Tark was told to cut the kid loose.

Now this. An armed robbery conviction in California will get you some serious time. How much will depend on the district attorney and the state's case against Brunner. But even if he manages to get himself off the hook and stay out of prison, there's still not much of a future. No college will touch him at this point.

And that's what's sad. Because Kenny Brunner had a bright future. He had it all, right in front of him. Unlike thousands of inner-city youngsters who can only dream about making big money as an NBA star, Brunner had the ability to one day realize his aspirations. God had given him the ability. But instead of embracing it, Brunner flushed it down the toilet.

To walk into a gym, then stick a gun in a coach's chest for a few bucks? How far did Brunner think he was going to get? What could he possibly have hoped to accomplish?

The guess here is he'll have a long time to try to come up with the answers. Finally, he earned something, though it's probably not what he had originally planned.