Nebraska basketball freshman big man Leo Curtis made his NCAA Tournament debut in the first round against Troy and scored his first postseason points on a dunk in the second round against Vanderbilt — a remarkable feat considering he’s only been playing organized basketball for about six years.
The 7-foot-2 forward hails from Reykjavik, Iceland, where he grew up playing soccer.
“I changed neighborhoods, and I was going to go to a soccer practice for a new club that was in my neighborhood, but it was postponed or something, so I just thought to myself like, ‘I’m really tall,’” Curtis told Hail Varsity. “I was like 6-6 or 6-7 at 15, almost 16, so I thought I’d just try basketball. I practice and I liked it, so I just kept showing up and started playing basketball.”
Curtis said he hadn’t played much before he was 15, only playing with friends outside. He had a tough time at the beginning.
“I was really bad at first when I started playing,” Curtis said. “I didn’t really know how to play, but I just worked hard, and maybe two years after I started playing, I started getting better and just kept going.”
Curtis moved to the United States in the fall of 2024, landing in Braintree, Mass.
“When I finished high school in Iceland, I wanted to go to either Europe or the U.S.,” Curtis said. “I decided to go to the U.S. just because it’s really popular right now, and everybody’s going here. So, I went to a prep school in Boston last year to get recognition, because you don’t get a lot in Iceland.”
He attended Cambridge Arts, Technology and Science, also known as CATS Academy. Curtis helped guide his team to a 28-7 record while averaging 12.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2.1 assists. CATS finished as runner-up in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Class AA Tournament and earned a No. 5 ranking. He was a first-team All-NEPSAC Class AA honoree and also earned National Prep All-American honorable mention recognition.
Now, Curtis is playing for a Nebraska team in the midst of its best season in program history. At 28-6, the Huskers secured the first NCAA Tournament win in program history, then won another game, and now they’re preparing to play in their first Sweet 16.
Curtis battled a leg injury that sidelined him for a stretch, but he has appeared in 17 games this season, totaling 27 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 67 minutes.
Curtis said he never expected to be in this situation.
“My goal was always to play for a senior team on my club when I started playing, and like two years later I was the best player on the team,” Curtis said. “It was amazing how fast you can improve in something.”
The Huskers will look to advance to the Elite Eight when they face Iowa in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, and Curtis is enjoying the ride.
“I just like playing basketball, and I really enjoy it,” Curtis said. “I like getting better, but also just being able to use what I have, like my height, and making good of it.”
Nebraska faces Iowa in Houston, Texas, on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on TBS and the Huskers Radio Network.
