A four-year (2006-07 through 2009-10) member of the men's basketball program, Daniel Curtin appeared in 83 games during his career and established himself as one of the UAA's top three-point shooters. During his senior campaign, he captured honorable mention accolades on the All-UAA team, averaging 10.6 points per outing while ranking second in the league in three-point percentage (.438, 39-of-89). The owner of 31 double-figure scoring contests, Curtin closed out his collegate stint No. 8 all-time at Emory with 122 treys and No. 9 in three-point percentage.
Q: Occupation and where do you reside?
DC: I’m a basketball agent, residing in both Atlanta and Great Barrington, MA
Q: How did you decide upon the career path that you have chosen?
DC: As my playing days came to a close, I realized that I had developed a very specialized knowledge to go along with a certain natural disposition and skillset that lent itself to my specific field. My summers in Atlanta had allowed me to develop a lot of connections in the local basketball community, and I was fortunate enough to develop a relationship with a local well-established agent who took me under his wing and taught me the business.
In addition to NBA players, I have represented a number of the top players internationally. This has meant a lot of travel - I’ve attended basketball games in 25+ countries and counting.
Q: What were the primary factors in you choosing Emory as your college?
DC: I chose Emory for all of the usual reasons - its great academic reputation, the ability to compete in one of the top D3 conferences in the nation, and its Atlanta location.
Q: Can you reflect on your time at Emory, both as a basketball player and as a student?
DC: I look back on my Emory experience extremely fondly, and I couldn’t imagine spending my college years anywhere else. I loved everything about my time on campus, and competing with my teammates were some of the best times of my life.
Q: Who were some people who influenced you while at Emory?
DC: Coach Jason Zimmerman definitely had a profound impact on my life. As someone who stuck around the game of basketball, a lot of what I learned from him on the court had a lasting impact on my relationship with the game, and so much of what I took away from my time playing for him has applied to all facets of life.
Q: What are some highlights that you remember while competing at Emory?
DC: Definitely running the pick and pop with Eagle great Anthony Fernandez. If only we played in the modern analytics era where we could have shot even more contested 3’s - no telling what kind of monster numbers we would have put up.
Q: You closed your career ranked among the program's all-time top 10 in 3pt FGS and 3pt. %, 11th in career FT% and earned All-UAA recognition ... Are there any accomplishments that you are extremely proud of or that stand out in your mind?
DC: What I am most proud of is being part of the early stages of turning the program around, and making yearly measurable improvements as a team that would continue (a lot faster) after I left. I’m very proud that my alma mater is consistently one of the best programs in the country, and I like to think that our teams played a role in laying this foundation and in building a culture that is still evident any time I stop by an Emory practice.
Q: Do you still play basketball in any leagues or recreationally?
DC: Aside from a brief, dominant men’s league run with ex-Eagle assistant Joey Beard, unfortunately no.
Q: How you are surviving the pandemic and how has it affected you?
DC: The pandemic has created a previously unthinkable destabilization of the sports industry. Aside from throwing our usual yearly schedules and rhythm out of the window, it has meant a lot less travel and a lot more FaceTime and Zoom calls. Just trying to stay ahead of the curve and make sure our clients are in the best possible positions to get through it all.
Q: Any interests/hobbies or things you do to relax when away from work?
DC: I took up cycling a few years ago, and quickly became obsessed. It has proven to be ideal for the pandemic, and I can’t think of many things better for the body and mind than an early morning ride in the Berkshires.
Q: Any former teammates that you are in contact with?
DC: Too many to count. After over a decade, there still isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t communicate somehow with my former teammates. These guys are friends for life, and getting together for Emory alumni games has been a highlight of recent years.
Q: Are you still able to keep up with Emory basketball?
DC: I follow each season closely, and watch as much as I can, even if that means it’s on my phone from an airport during a busy basketball season.
Q: Any advice you would give Emory students/future grads?
DC: Savor every moment - time flies…
Daniel Curtin is a basketball agent and splits his time between Atlanta
and Great Barrington, Mass.