Q&A: Robbinsdale Armstrong's Curtis Ends Career At All-Star Game

boys basketball senior Marquel Curtis, a 6-foot-3 wing, finished his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. He averaged 25.1 points per game this season and was named second team All-Metro by Fox Sports North. 

Curtis scored in double figures in all 28 games with eight contests over 30 points, including a season-best 39 against Andover. He led the Falcons to an 18-10 mark, losing to Wayzata 75-60 in the second round of the Section 6AAAA playoffs.

Curtis finished his high school career this weekend in the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Series held in St. Cloud and at Macalester College.

Golden Valley Patch caught up with Curtis to learn more about senior season and future college plans.

Patch: This was a last chance to play with and against a lot of players that you played AAU ball against this weekend. Was this kind of a fun experience to finish out your high school career?

MC: “I haven’t really played with a bunch of those guys on the team, besides two of them (Jake White of Chaska and Jordan Smith from Orono). It was good to get to play with all the other good players in the state and get to know them for the weekend.”

Patch: You had a great career at Armstrong. What stands out as some of the top highlights and memories for the Falcons? 

MC: “Probably when I broke the rebounding record and my 40-20 (40 points and 20 rebounds) game against Cooper. That was probably the best game I ever had.”

Patch: There have been a lot of good players go through Armstrong. It has to make you feel very proud to finish your career as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

MC: “Beating Alex Rubin in both of those categories and Everette Pedescleaux. They were the best players to ever come out of Armstrong and now, I think that I am up with them, if not better than them.” 

Patch: What is latest on your recruitment? I know that you had previously mentioned University of Missouri-Kansas City, which signed your good friend St. Paul Johnson guard Estan Tyler in the fall. Where do things stand?

MC: “Just the same stuff. I’ve gotten a couple of calls from Pepperdine and Montana State, but my No. 1 option, if I get the offer from UMKC, is to go there.”

Patch: Are you planning on taking a couple of visits in the next couple of weeks?

MC: “I might go to Montana State in the next two weeks.”

Patch: What types of things are you going to be doing now that the high school season is over to get ready for college?

MC: “Just stay in shape. Keep going to 43 Hoops (a training facility in St. Louis Park) and work out with the rest of the guys. Make sure, I don’t get out of shape. All the kids from our 17’s team goes up there to play. We are getting 5-on-5 versus (Eden Prairie girls basketball coach) Chris’s (Carr) new AAU team.”

Patch: Have you thought much about what you would like to major in at college?

MC: “Probably some type of business, maybe economics.”

Patch: You just got a 23 on your ACT. Does that make you feel a little more secure knowing that now that you are qualified you might get a few more opportunities? 

MC: “Getting the 23 made me stop thinking about it all the time, ‘like am I going to be eligible to play next year.’ So, getting that 23 dropped everything and made me feel good.”

Patch: Has there been a lot of pressure on you not knowing where you are going to be?

MC: “Not really. I just thought something would happen sooner or later, so I am just waiting on that.”