Keisei Tominaga's Nebraska teammates often find themselves questioning his athleticism based on his appearance alone.

Once the 6-foot-2, 179-pound guard from Japan, Keisei Tominaga, grips a basketball or sets foot on the court, any doubts about his athleticism vanish. His prowess and skill on the basketball court speak volumes, defying any initial perceptions based solely on his appearance.

Tominaga's dubbed the "Japanese Steph Curry" for his sharpshooting skills, akin to the NBA legend. His flashy ball-handling and infectious energy define his style, leading the eighth-seeded Huskers against Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament's South Region opener on Friday.

That's why fans back in Japan will be glued to their screens on Friday, despite the challenging 14-hour time difference.

“He’s kind of a celebrity over there, I heard,” stated the guard, Brice Williams.

On the court, Tominaga commands as much attention as off it. Leading Nebraska with an average of 14.9 points per game this season, he showcased his prowess with a career-high 31 points during an overtime battle against Illinois on Feb. 4.

Forward Rienk Mast expressed the thrill of playing alongside someone who generates hype and excitement. The added perk? It creates extra space for his teammates to shine on the court.

“I definitely look for him and try and feed him the ball whenever I can during the game,” Mast said.

Following in his father's footsteps, Tominaga represented Japan in 3x3 basketball at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and he played a crucial role in Japan's qualification for the 2024 Paris Games. Upon rejoining his Nebraska teammates after his Olympic stint, Mast vividly remembered how Tominaga showcased his skills by taking over three consecutive possessions during a 5-on-5 session, starting with a routine three-pointer.Tominaga's father, Hiroyuki, was a center on Japan's national team that competed in the 1998 FIBA World Championship

“When you let him hit one 3, he gets on fire, like, right away,” Mast said. “So then he hit a step-back 3. And then right the next possession he got switched, the 5 switched out on him and he took him one-on-one and hit another step-back 3, like, three possessions in a row. That was the first time that I really saw what type of player he was in person, and he’s been special this year.”

According to Williams, Tominaga's prowess truly shines after practice or shootarounds. It's during these moments when the guard effortlessly sinks turnaround half-court shots, with his shooting skills seeming to improve as the level of difficulty increases.

“He won’t look at the basket,” Williams said. “Him and Rienk do it every time after shootaround. But Keisei makes them on a regular — it’s just crazy the stuff he does off-camera.”

Mast observed that while Coach Fred Hoiberg emphasizes holding the follow-through after the shot, Tominaga has his own approach. For him, all it takes is to find a somewhat decent look and release the ball cleanly from his hands.

Tominaga kicked off his playing journey in the United States at Ranger College, under the guidance of Coach Billy Gillispie.

Hoiberg emphasized the challenge of playing under Gillispie, a tough coach who played a significant role in Tominaga's development. During the recruitment process, Hoiberg conversed with Gillispie, who expressed admiration for Tominaga's competitive drive. Gillispie mentioned to Hoiberg that he could yell at Tominaga, only to receive a smile in response.

The language barrier posed a challenge for Tominaga, but he received support from a Japanese trainer at Ranger College to start learning English. His language skills further improved upon joining Nebraska in 2021, aided by the influence of his girlfriend.

Hoiberg commended Tominaga's remarkable progress over the past two years, reflecting on how he initially grappled with physical challenges during his debut season.

Tominaga now faces every opponent head-on, refusing to back down from any challenge. 

Hoiberg highlighted Tominaga's ability to initiate contact and his knack for creating space, praising his development and the attention it has attracted. With Nebraska aiming for its first NCAA Tournament win, the team is prioritizing minimizing distractions.

“He’s played on the world stage,” Hoiberg said. “He helped his national team at Japan accomplish something that’s never been done before. And that’s what we’re trying to accomplish here at Nebraska.”

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