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Nebraska basketball lands a commitment from 2025 four-star center Leo Curtis

Robin Washut profile picby:Robin Washut•05/07/25•

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Leo Curtis basketball 2025
2025 CATS Academy (Mass.) four-star center Leo Curtis (Photo: @leocurt1s/Instagram)

Nebraska basketball put the finishing touch on its 2025-26 roster on Wednesday by landing a commitment from 2025 four-star center Leo Curtis.

The 7-foot-1 native of Iceland announced his pledge to the Huskers two days after officially visiting Lincoln. Curtis chose NU over Washington, Texas, and others.

“I chose Nebraska because of how the coaches use the bigs and help players develop,” Curtis told HuskerOnline. “The facilities are top-notch, and I know I’ll have everything I need to improve. The fan support is amazing too, and I’m excited to be part of that energy.”

Curtis planned to take a second visit to Washington on Wednesday and potentially a third official to Texas this weekend. However, those plans changed in the days following his time at Nebraska.

“I was going to take more visits, but Nebraska really had everything I needed, and it was the right fit, so there was no reason to visit more schools,” he said.

The CATS Academy (Mass.) standout recently de-committed from Arizona State. He initially chose the Sun Devils over Indiana and West Virginia. On3 rates him the No. 84 player and No. 11 center in his class.

Curtis averaged 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game with the Icelandic national team in the U20 Euro Championships. Now 20 years old and 220 pounds, Curtis also averaged 15.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, and 1.7 bpg while shooting 64.7 percent from the field and 42.2 % on 3-pointers for D1 Iceland in 2023-24.

“I’m a tall, versatile player that can shoot, attack mismatches, block shots, and make the right read,” Curtis previously told On3Sports. “I move well and have good feel for the game.”

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Former Huskers Thorbjarnarson, Kavas helped sell Curtis on NU

Head coach Fred Hoiberg, lead recruiter Ernie Zeigler, and the rest of Nebraska’s staff sealed the deal with Curtis this week. As it turns out, some former Huskers also did their part.

Thorir Thorbjarnarson, who played at NU from 2017-21, and Matej Kavas (2019-20) provided sales pitches of their own to help get Curtis to Lincoln.

Curtis has played with and against Thorbjarnarson in Iceland and also at a national team camp this summer. He recently met Kavas, who is now playing professionally with Curtis’s club team in Iceland, while back in his home country last month.

“They said Hoiberg is a good coach and that they liked it there,” Curtis said.

NU’s final roster number remains TBD

Adding another player like Curtis presumably meant Nebraska would have to cut someone loose to open up a spot on its 15-man roster. However, that might not be the case this season.

Just like the proposed 105-man roster limit for football, the 15-man cap for hoops was supposed to go into effect this offseason. But with the recent developments in the NCAA vs. House settlement case, there could be some leeway on those limits in 2025-26.

The grandfather clause being discussed with football would also apply to basketball, meaning NU’s current walk-ons could stay in the program this season without counting against the 15-player cap. In other words, the Huskers could still add another piece without forcing anyone out.

Reports suggest a ruling on that matter could come as soon as Wednesday evening.

Nebraska’s 2025-26 roster distribution chart

FRESHMENREDSHIRT FRESHMENSOPHOMORESJUNIORSSENIORS
Quentin RhymesBraden FragerJustin BolisBerke BuyuktuncelRienk Mast
Leo CurtisWill CooperPryce SandfortConnor Essegian
Cale JacobsenSam Hoiberg
Henry BurtUgnius Jarusevicius
Jamarques Lawrence
Kendall Blue
Jared Garcia
Nebraska’s roster numbers by class
2/151/152/154/157/15

Future roster matrix

2025-262026-272027-282028-29
Rienk Mast – SRBerke Buyuktuncel – SRWill Cooper – SRBraden Frager – SR
Connor Essegian – SRPryce Sandfort – SRJustin Bolis – SRQuentin Rhymes – SR
Sam Hoiberg – SRCale Jacobsen – SRBraden Frager – JRLeo Curtis – SR
Ugnius Jarusevicius – SRHenry Burt – SRQuentin Rhymes – JR
Jamarques Lawrence – SRWill Cooper – JRLeo Curtis – JR
Kendall Blue – SRJustin Bolis – JR
Jared Garcia – SRBraden Frager – SO
Pryce Sandfort – JRQuentin Rhymes – SO
Berke Buyuktuncel – JRLeo Curtis – SO
Cale Jacobsen – JR
Henry Burt – JR
Justin Bolis – SO
Will Cooper – SO
Braden Frager – RFr
Quentin Rhymes – FR
Leo Curtis – FR
16/158/154/152/15

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