Curtis Hollis facts for kids

Curtis Melvin Hollis (born April 25, 1998) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Helsinki Seagulls in Finland's top basketball league, the Korisliiga. Curtis is known for playing as a shooting guard or small forward. He started his pro career in 2018 after playing one season of college basketball.

High School Basketball Journey

Curtis Hollis played basketball at Mansfield Summit High School for three years. In his junior year, he was named All-District, which means he was one of the best players in his area. For his final year, he moved to Advanced Prep International (API). There, he helped his team win the state championship!

Playing with Future Stars

At API, Curtis played alongside some amazing talents. These included Terrance Ferguson and Billy Preston, who later became professional players. Curtis was even invited to a special camp called Pangos All-American Camp in 2016. He also played with future NBA star Trae Young when he was younger. Around that time, he also played with Deandre Ayton, who later became the first pick in the NBA draft.

Football Skills

During his senior year, Curtis also joined the school's football team. He played as a wide receiver and showed great skill. He even received scholarship offers to play football at big universities like Kansas and Oklahoma State. Curtis decided to focus on basketball, even though he had committed to play football at North Texas.

College Hoops Experience

After high school, Curtis Hollis went to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. This college is known for having a strong basketball program. It even helped another player, Kadeem Allen, get to the NBA.

As a freshman, Curtis played well. He averaged about 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. He was good at shooting, making 50% of his shots. His best game was when he scored 19 points against Garden City Community College. His team's season ended in a tournament, stopping their chance to win back-to-back titles. After just one year, Curtis decided to become a professional basketball player.

Curtis Hollis: Pro Basketball Career

Curtis Hollis has played for many teams around the world. He started his professional journey in the United States.

Starting with the Houston Ballers

In 2018, Curtis joined the Houston Ballers in a new league called the Junior Basketball Association (JBA). The league's founder, LaVar Ball, told him that the top players would get to play against teams in Europe. Curtis was excited about this chance to chase his dream. He quickly became known as one of the best players on his team.

In his first game, Curtis almost got a "triple-double." This means getting double-digit numbers in three stats, like points, rebounds, and assists. He scored 24 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and made 8 assists. Later, he set new personal records, scoring 31 points and then 34 points in other games. He even had a game with 29 points, 16 rebounds, and 9 assists! On July 17, he scored a career-high 37 points. Later, he scored an amazing 40 points in another game. Curtis was chosen for the JBA All-Star Game. He averaged 29.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game for the Houston Ballers. After the season, he was picked for the JBA USA Team to play internationally.

Playing in Germany: Dragons Rhöndorf

In 2019, Curtis moved to Germany to play for the Dragons Rhöndorf in the ProB league. The team's coach noticed him during the JBA European tour. Curtis continued to play very well. He scored 26 points and had 11 rebounds in one game. He also scored 28 points in an upset win against Rheinstars Cologne. In another game, he scored 40 points against Baunach Young Pikes. Curtis scored 20 or more points in 13 different games! He averaged 22.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.0 steals per game. He left the team in January 2020.

Short Stint with Santa Cruz Warriors

In October 2021, Curtis tried out for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League. This league is like a stepping stone to the NBA. He was successful in his tryout, but was later waived by the team in November.

Basketball in the Dominican Republic

In October 2022, Curtis played in the Dominican Republic for a team called Club Centro. In his first game on December 14, he had an amazing performance. He scored 45 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and made 8 assists. He shot incredibly well, making 71% of his shots!

Canadian Basketball with Sudbury Five

In 2023, Curtis played for the Sudbury Five in the NBL Canada. He played fourteen games with the team, averaging 18.4 points per game.

African Adventures: Cape Town Tigers and JBC

On April 13, 2023, Curtis was announced as a new player for the Cape Town Tigers from South Africa. This team plays in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), which is a big league for African teams. In November 2023, Curtis also joined a Zimbabwean club called JBC. He played with them in a tournament called the Elite 16, which is part of the Road to BAL.

Joining Bangui Sporting Club

In April 2024, Curtis was on the roster for Bangui Sporting Club. This team also plays in the 2024 BAL season. He made his debut on April 19, coming off the bench to help his team.

Playing in Finland: Helsinki Seagulls

On October 4, 2024, Curtis Hollis signed with the Helsinki Seagulls. This team plays in the Korisliiga, which is the top professional basketball league in Finland.