Former Texas Longhorn J’Covan Brown awaited his name to be called in the 2012 NBA Draft in June, holding out faith that he would be chosen by one of the 30 teams.

His final glimmer of hope was squashed when the last name announced by the NBA commissioner was not his, disappointing he, his friends and his family, which was held in his hometown of Port Arthur, Texas.

J’Covan made the decision to declare for the draft early in April, dashing Longhorn fans’ hopes that he would be one of the few talents to finish out his college career as a senior. Yet, in hindsight, three years isn’t too shabby when considering those who have left prior to J’Covan (In 2011, it was Tristan Thompson, Jordan Hamilton, and Cory Joseph who bolted to the NBA.)

Brown, who averaged 20/3/4 last year as the leading scorer in the Big 12 Conference, cited family as the motivating factor for making the jump to the NBA a year earlier than projected.

“The time has come for me to pursue a career in professional basketball and take care of my daughter, Jordyn,” said J’Covan. “This has been a difficult decision, but it is the best decision for myself and my family.”

Despite being ranked just 91st on Chad Ford’s Big Board prior to the June draft, Brown didn’t waver in his final decision. He was adamant in his reasons and was prepared to accept the outcome.

That result turned out to be an opportunity to battle it out as an NBA free agent. Soon after the draft came to a close, the 6-foot-2 guard decided to sign on with the defending champion Miami Heat’s summer league team.

Following the conclusion of summer play, Brown can only hope his hard work and performance on the basketball court will earn him an invitation to join Miami’s preseason camp. It will be there, granted he makes it, that Brown will vie for a spot on the team’s 15-man roster.

It’s this type of determination that will go a long way in deciding J’Covan Brown’s uncertain professional basketball career. He is still recovering from a minor ankle injury that he suffered prior to the NBA Draft Combine. There has been some speculation that this negatively affected his draft stock as he was not able to work out for teams.

In addition to his daughter Jordyn, J’Covan also has a seven-week-old son, J’Covan Jr., to support. From the perspective of Brown, he feels he has no choice but to overcome the ankle sprain and play. He has to succeed, and he will.

His journey will officially begin on July 15 in Las Vegas, as the Heat take on the Toronto Raptors in the team’s opening summer-league game.

UPDATE: According to a report from the Beaumont Enterprise, Brown has suffered a strained right Achilles that will prevent him from playing basketball this summer.

This setback almost guarantees that J'Covan Brown will not make the Miami Heat roster for the 2012-13 season.