Curtis dialing back focus on recruitment

Four-star Natrell Curtis is in that place - the place where his recruitment seems secondary. The Phoenix Mountain Pointe star holds 17 scholarship offers and has already taken his share of visits. He's kicking around the idea of attending a few spring games, too.

For the most part, though, Curtis is worried about other things. He's looking as the next few months as a halftime breather in his decision-making process. He has a senior season to prepare for. Specifically he's concerned with his team's Aug. 23 opener against national powerhouse Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.

"I don't leave it up to our coaches to tell me to watch film, I've been watching their players' highlight films and some of their games," Curtis said. "I'm trying to make sure I am ready to kill it next season. Nathan Starks sticks out. He's a good running back. On the defensive side, No. 81 sticks out. I can't remember his name but it's in my notebook."

There are more important things on Curtis' plate than college visits. That's not to say he's totally muted his recruitment. He's just dialed his attention back a bit. Curtis will attend a UCLA practice over the weekend and is leaning toward hitting the Bruins' spring game as well. On top of that, his best friend is doing all he can to make sure he lands in Westwood.

The pressure is omnipresent.

"Kenny [Lacy] is headed up there, and the coaches want me to come," Curtis said. "I might just hop in the car with Kenny and go up there.

"Kenny is my best friend. That's my brother. He's always talking to me about UCLA. It's something we always talk about."

Lacy is doing his share of pushing, but there's always a corresponding pull. In Curtis' case, it's come in the form of a plan to stay home and build something special in Tempe. Whether or not it will actually come to fruition is anyone's guess, but the idea of a Phoenix-area package deal is being discussed. Curtis seems to be at the forefront of the budding idea.

"Some of the top guys in the state, we talked about staying in the state and just playing together at ASU," he said. "I think a lot of us are taking that pretty seriously. It's something that we talk about it."

Curtis, the offensive line MVP of the Rivals Camp Series stop in Phoenix, helped lead Mountain Pointe to an appearance in the Arizona state title game a year ago. He plays both offensive guard and defensive tackle for the Pride.