As the leader of an up-tempo Armstrong basketball team that was 11-1 through Sunday and averaging nearly 80 points per game, Armstrong senior guard Marquel Curtis is making a name for himself as one of the most explosive players in the metropolitan area.

Curtis set Armstrong school records last week for career scoring (1,503 points going into the week) and rebounding (722). He is averaging 24.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, putting him in the top 10 in the metro in both categories.

Staff writer Jim Paulsen talked with Curtis about being considered one of the great players in Armstrong history.

Q How does it feel to own school records in scoring and rebounding?
A It feels pretty good. It's nice to have it finally done. People were stopping me all the time in the halls and asking when I was going to break the record.

Q Did they stop the game to honor your record?
A No, they just announced it when it happened, right after the next dead ball. Everybody stood and cheered. It was nice.

Q Have you thought about the fact that now you're going to be considered one of the best Armstrong has ever produced?
A Guys like Alex Rubin, who was probably the best player, and Everette [Pedescleaux], they were great players. It's an honor to be up there with them.

Q When you started playing at Armstrong, did you ever think you would set records some day?
A No way. When I was a freshman, I never even thought I would play basketball. But Coach [Greg] Miller talked me into going out. He guessed right.

Q What do you think he saw in you?
A Probably my scoring ability. I've always been pretty good about attacking and finishing. I've always had a lot of confidence in myself.

Q Where does that confidence come from?
A I don't know. I've just always had it. You've got to have confidence in yourself. If you don't, what's going to do it for you?

Q Which one are you most proud of, the rebounding record or the scoring record?
A Probably rebounding, because I'm a guard. You don't see a guy my size get all of those rebounds.

Q What's your rebounding secret?
A I play above the rim and go get the ball. I don't wait for it to come to me. It's hard work. You've got to be smart, to know where the ball is going to come off the rim.

Q What is the best part of your game?
A Probably slashing and finishing above the rim.

Q Have opposing teams been game-planning to defense you?
A I see that a lot. A lot of teams will play me hot and face-guard me. But that doesn't really work because I can go right by them. And they can't do it that much because we have some good shooters on this team.

Q How old were you when you first dunked?
A My freshman year was when I first dunked in a game. Now I get about two or three a game.

Q What was your best dunk this season?
A Against Anoka, my teammate stole the ball and passed it ahead to me. I jumped off one foot and slammed it with two hands. It felt like I took off from the volleyball line.