Leo Curtis is already turning heads after picking up several high major offers (including Indiana, Stanford and Xavier in the last 48 hours) early into his U.S. stint. Curtis hails from Iceland and plays at CATS Academy in Braintree, MA. His positional versatility and smooth shot-making make him an intriguing prospect to keep tabs on. Pro Insight's Ian Riaf met with the seven-footer to talk about his basketball journey, all things Iceland, and aspirations for his next step with basketball.
For the next installment of the Pro Insight Q&A series, we present 2025 prospect Leo Curtis, from Reykjavik, Iceland:
Pro Insight: How has the move to Boston been for you thus far?
Leo Curtis: So I got to the states a month-and-a-half ago and the move has been pretty good. It's a different game than in Europe, and I think I'm adjusting pretty well. Also moving away from home is a little bit different, but it's been pretty good.
PI : How did you get into basketball in the first place?
LC: I started basketball pretty late. I used to play soccer all the time, and by the time I was 15, I was really tall, still playing soccer, so I thought I'd start playing basketball. I was almost too tall for soccer and I liked it right away. So I did both for a little bit of time, but then I felt like I could be pretty good at basketball, so I just stuck with it.
PI: Did your parents or siblings play basketball as well?
LC: I'm the first one in the family to play basketball — my dad used to play soccer and my mom used to swim.
PI: How would you describe your overall game?
LC: I'm a versatile player. I can stretch the floor, shoot, dribble, finish, and pass, and do most things. I just try to find what's best each time. Since I started playing, my goal has been to be able to do everything and I think it's going pretty good.
PI: How do you feel you best impact winning?
LC: I think I do it many ways. For example, defense around the rim, on the perimeter, and also on the offensive end. I can make shots or help my teammates get open by rolling to the basket and getting the defenders to commit and that creates open shots for my teammates.
PI: What’s one specific area of improvement you’re focused on?
LC: It's probably finishing around the rim through contact and playing against bigger players than I'm used to. I think I can always improve my shot. Those are the main things.
PI: What are some of your goals this year with CATS?
LC: It's probably to win the NEPSAC Championship and win most of our games, if not all. For myself, it's just adjusting to the American game and continuing to improve.
PI: What are some of your general goals for the future?
LC: I want to play at a big college program and actually play a lot. Play like I should play. In the end, I want to make it to the NBA and have a successful career.
PI: Describe the basketball culture in Iceland.
LC: Basketball is the second-most popular sport in Iceland after soccer. In Iceland, we have clubs and not schools, so it's a little bit different. But I think we have good grassroots programs where young players can play a lot. I think we have some good players that have a chance to get somewhere if they get the right opportunities.
PI: How has your experience been playing for the Icelandic National Team?
LC: It was a fun experience to get to play with friends and people from my country where we all have something in common and compete against other countries to see how they play. Then we also travel to the tournament and that's pretty fun.
PI: What was it like playing for IR Reykjavik prior to your move to New England?
LC: I think I had a great time playing for my club. We had some ups and some downs. My first season with a senior team, we were relegated to the division below. But then last year, we got back up. So it was pretty nice to get the experience of both winning and losing. I think I had a great situation where I got to develop a lot on my club. I also played with my age at my club and then the senior team, so I got a lot of playing time.
PI: For anyone reading this, where is one specific place in Iceland that everyone should visit?
LC: I think everyone should go and try the outdoor swimming pools. We have a lot of them. We have hot tubs, cold tubs, saunas, and more. I go there every other day when I'm in Iceland.
PI: Do you have an expected college major?
LC: I'm not sure, yet. Something that goes well with basketball and maybe something in technology.
PI: Any idea what you would be doing if you weren’t pursuing a career in basketball?
LC: I'd probably be in Iceland, maybe in university, and maybe if I was not so tall, I'd still be playing soccer.
PI: You recently visited Arizona State; how did that trip go?
LC: It was great. It's a nice place, pretty warm, I got to know the coaches pretty well. I also went to the football game, and it was really cool. They had a lot of fans, and it was a nice show.
PI: Are there any college programs that you’d like to hear from?
LC: Not specifically, but I'd like to hear from the bigger schools like Duke, Kentucky and Kansas — but I don't have a dream school.
PI: What are some of your off-court interests or hobbies?
LC: I like other sports. I also like tennis and most team sports. I like to go to the swimming pools and I have an interest in technology.
PI: Do you have a favorite tennis player?
LC: Andy Murray because he is Scottish — I'm one-fourth Scottish.
PI: Who would you say is the most important person in your life?
LC: It's probably just my family — my mom, dad and siblings. They help me a lot. They talk to me and make sure I'm good.
PI: How would you describe yourself in just a few words?
LC: I'd say I'm pretty calm. I'm level-headed. I think a lot. Sometimes I overthink, but I think a lot, and I try to be funny.
PI: Any advice for international prospects considering playing in the states?
LC: I'd say you have to know what situation you're going into. If you have someone to help you with it, then just do it — don't wait on it — then it might never happen.
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