So fresh, so clean
Freshman guard performs in clutch for Dukes
By Tim Chapman, staff writer
Posted on December 4, 2006

After converting on two free throws in a back-and-forth battle with Virginia Military Institute, freshman point guard Pierre Curtis gave the JMU faithful a taste of the clutch play he expects to deliver for years to come.

On the ensuing possession, Curtis stole the ball and sunk a floater as time expired to give the JMU men’s basketball team its first victory of the season.

“As a point guard, I need to get the team set up on plays, but Coach Keener also tells me to be aggressive at the offensive end,” Curtis said. “It felt good to hit that shot, my teammates were jumping on me and everyone was happy for that win no matter how we got it.”

The 6-foot-3, 165-pounder from Denver hasn’t just shown flashes of his abilities, but has impressed his coaches and teammates with his poise and consistency, things that aren’t always characteristic of a first-year player.

“We knew when we first looked at him he loved the game and he’s proven he wants to get better,” Keener said.

Keener and the team aren’t the only ones noticing Curtis’ promise, as he picked up Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week honors for the week of Nov 19.

In his first two outings at the Convocation Center, Curtis led Madison to victories against VMI and Wofford while averaging 15.5 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. JMU sophomore swingman Kyle Swanston has been working out with his new point guard since the summer and knew he would make an immediate impact.       

“He’s a real clutch player and, for a guy his size, is real strong with the ball,” Swanston said. “He understands time and score, and his great decision making will make him a great candidate for freshman of the year.”

Through Saturday’s loss to Old Dominion, Curtis is third on the team in scoring with 11.8 points per game, trailing only sophomores Juwann James and Joe Posey, who are averaging 16.2 and 16, respectively. Although he played the two-guard through high school and a year at prep school, Curtis attributes his comfort in his new role to Keener’s system.

“The coaches have helped make it easy, but I have always been a confident kid maybe even on the bubble of being cocky,” Curtis said.

Getting off to a quick start has been bittersweet for Curtis, though, as the majority of his family lives in Denver and Chicago and hasn’t had a chance to see the blossoming guard play. He reminisces about his first experiences with basketball and credits his interest in the game to his grandmother, Norma Curtis.

“She was the first to get me into it; we’d watch games together and she even bought me my first ball,” Curtis said.

Curtis and the Dukes (2-4 overall, 0-1 in the CAA) travel to Washington, D.C., to face Georgetown tomorrow.

“It feels good to get the recognition, but I’ll be happier winning more games,” Curtis said.