FORMER SCC STAR TIMMONS ENJOYING LIFE

He hasn't made it to the NBA -- not yet at least -- but, overall, basketball has been quite good to former Scott County Central High standout Marcus Timmons.

Timmons, also a former star at Southern Illinois who is in his fifth season of playing professionally overseas, was in the area over the holidays and he took some time out to chat with a reporter during Sunday's SIU vs. Southeast game at the SIU Arena.

"People who saw me play here (at SIU) always ask me if I regret not making the NBA," said Timmons. "I always tell them not at all. I've gotten to see so many parts of the world and travel. I've really enjoyed it."

Timmons, although he is now 29 and has obviously matured physically since his high school days, still has the boyish grin that was at one time so familiar to prep basketball fans in Southeast Missouri.

The 6-foot-8 Timmons was something of a local Magic Johnson as he roamed all over the court during a brilliant prep career while leading the vaunted Scott Central dynasty under legendary coach Ron Cookson.

Timmons, a 1991 Scott Central graduate who was a four-year standout in high school, helped lead the Braves to four straight Class 1A state championships, a part of Scott Central's amazing state-record run of seven consecutive titles.

When told that he is still a major topic of discussion among area hoop fans at the University High Christmas Tournament held annually at the Show Me Center, Timmons grinned.

"Those are some really good memories," said Timmons, who led the Braves to the 1990 U-High title and held the tournament scoring record of 43 points until Scott Central's Jreece Johnson broke it just last week with a 49-point effort. "I still talk to coach Cookson all the time. I call him, E-mail him. I'm supposed to meet him after the game."

Timmons, heavily recruited out of high school, decided to stay close to home and play for SIU, which was at the time just beginning to get its program rolling again under coach Rich Herrin.

SIU was evidently a good match for Timmons as he started 124 of 125 games during a brilliant career, helping lead the Salukis to a 91-34 record and three NCAA Tournament berths.

Timmons, a multi-dimensional player for the Salukis much as he had been at Scott Central, finished his SIU career fourth on the school's rebounding charts and ninth on the scoring list.

After leaving Carbondale, Timmons was courted some by the NBA although he wasn't drafted. Ultimately, he wound up playing overseas.

Timmons, after some early stints in places like Italy and Switzerland, settled into the National Basketball League of Australia, where he averaged about 20 points and 10 rebounds per game competing three seasons for the Melbourne squad.

At Melbourne, Timmons played with former Seton Hall star Andrew Gaze, an native of Australia whose father coaches the squad.

While in Australia, Timmons met his wife, whom he married in 1997. The couple has an 18-month-old son.

This season, Timmons has been playing in Warsaw, Poland, where he is averaging about 10 points and nine rebounds per game.

"It's been a good experience for me," said Timmons of playing overseas. "I like to travel and see all parts of the world. It's not just playing basketball.

"When you're in high school, you hear about all these places, and I've gotten to go to them."

While Timmons has not yet played in the NBA, he said there is still the possibility he could get to the world's top league some day.

"I went to Milwaukee's tryout camp (fairly recently) and hopefully I'll hear something from them," he said.

But even if that doesn't materialize, Timmons will be content to finish his playing career overseas before returning to the United States.

"I think I have probably 10 more years in my body (to play), then I've thought about getting into coaching," he said.

And would Timmons consider coming back home to coach his alma mater, the Scott County Central Braves? He again flashed that trademark smile.

"I've talked to some people about it," he said. "That might be a good place for me to coach my son."