The 6-7, Zach Knollenberg is the big man at little Spectrum charter school in Elk River. Also big are his scoring numbers. The senior wing scored 40 points in the season-opener and 32 three days later. He spoke with Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about the program's new attitude and filling up the stat sheet.
Q This is your fourth season of varsity basketball but is there something different about being a senior?
A This year, above any other year since I've been here, there's a good winning attitude. As a senior, I try to set an example each game by doing my best and expecting to get something good out of every experience.
Q You led the team in scoring as a junior (22.1 points per game) but were you surprised to be in such a good groove to start this season?
A Scoring has always come natural to me. In the past I had to work a lot harder to score, but now I'm a bigger part of our offense.
Q You shoot well for a big guy. You hit nine three-pointers in those first two games.
A In seventh grade, I was the second-shortest kid on my traveling team. My freshman year I was only 6-1. So I learned to dribble and how to get my shot off. Both of those things have been really beneficial.
Q I'm told you can be found ringing a bell at a Salvation Army kettle this Christmas season.
