BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Kevin Britten is getting ready. He is lifting weights, trying to add a few pounds of muscle. He is playing basketball some nights until midnight.
There is no choice. To compete in the GTE Summer Basketball League at Purcell Marian High School, which begins its 13th season Monday night, Britten knows he has to be at his best.
AT A GLANCE
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What: 13th annual GTE Summer Basketball League
Where: Purcell Marian High School, 2935 Hackberry, East Walnut Hills
Admission: There is no charge to see the games, but donations are accepted.
Origin: League was founded in 1986 by former college players Dennis Bettis (Northern Kentucky University), Butch Burbridge (Miami), Derek Davis (NKU) and Ralph Lee (Xavier).
For information: Call GTE Wireless Summer Basketball Hotline for list of games, dates and times (886-2970).
Sponsorship: GTE Wireless is in its second year as the league's financial sponsor.
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Especially now. He is one of the leaders for two-time defending champion Primecutt Barber Shop, which has won the league tournament four of the past six years. Primecutt, which last year also featured Art Long and Ruben Patterson, is renamed Race Street Records this year.
"Night in and night out, you're going against top guys at your position," Britten, 29, said. "It's the best league. You've got to get jacked up for it. Excited? I'll be ready. I can't wait until Monday."
Every summer, there is a buzz about the gym when one of the NBA players steps in, like former UC stars Nick Van Exel and Corie Blount. Fans come to the small, often-sweltering gym to watch past, present and future players from UC, Xavier and Miami.
Britten's name may be less familiar, but he is certainly one of the stars of the summer league.
"He's definitely the catalyst for our team," Race Street Records coach Tony Brown said. "I'm going to have to say he's the second-best point guard up there besides Nick (who didn't play last year). He's just a big-time player. I count on him most in the big games. He hates to lose."
Britten scored 21 points in last year's championship game, a 91-86 victory over Harmon, Davis & Associates.
The 5-foot-11 guard is a 1986 graduate of Taft High School, but he did not play as a senior. He said some smaller schools expressed interest in signing him, but Britten didn't go that route.
"I just wish I would've," he said. "The opportunities would've been better. If I had played at UC or any of those little schools and just stayed with it, I would've gotten a lot of notoriety because I can play."
This past year, his teams won championships at the Friars Club and Winton Terrace league.
"The years UC was down at point guard, he probably could have stepped right on in," GTE Summer League director Dennis Bettis said.
"He's cut like (Seattle SuperSonics guard) Gary Payton. He has that nastiness about him as far as he's real competitive. He gets that look on his face. I think he more or less feels like this is his college, his pros."
Bettis calls Britten one of the top streetball players in the region.
Britten corrects that.
"No, I feel I'm one of the better players in the area," he said. "Not streetball.
"People know I can play. Corie Blount asked me the other night why I'm not playing anywhere. Just the right opportunity has to come at the right time."
He said he almost had a chance to play overseas a few years ago, but the team already had its allotment of two Americans.
Bettis said Britten is a smart player, unlike many who learn the game on the streets. He seldom makes mistakes, Bettis said, and his flaws are not exposed by better competition.
"He learned, I guess, by being around ballplayers and watching the game," Bettis said. "He could have definitely played in college. He's a great shooter. He's quick. He can run the point."
Brown, who played at Hughes High School and plays with Britten during the winter, will be coaching the summer team for the seventh year. Brown has watched Britten go toe-to-toe with Van Exel and hold his own.
Britten is hardly in awe of the professional players.
"They're just like regular guys to me," he said. "I can compete with all of them; they know that."
What Britten wants now is a three-peat.
He expects his team to include Jack Jennings (Western Kentucky), Darnell Williams (Xavier), Torraye Braggs (XU) and Patterson (UC), depending on their availability, Darnell Burton (UC) and Long (UC), who is playing in the U.S. Basketball League and won't be available until late in the season.
"If those guys' heads are on straight, that's an NBA team right there," Britten said. "I don't ever feel we're going to lose with that team. How could you?"
