Duke Basketball: Matthew Hurt to be in Cameron for Virginia game

The Duke basketball coaches may not have the upper hand on the recruitment of five-star 2019 forward Matthew Hurt at the moment, but that could change after they host him for an official visit next month.

If it was played this week, the Duke-Virginia game would be a top-five matchup. And when the game does actually occur in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Jan. 19, it will be a chance for the Duke basketball program to impress a top-10 target from the 2019 class.

Matthew Hurt, a five-star prospect ranked No. 7 on the 247Sports Composite, has already taken one official visit: to Kentucky last weekend. And now, as reported by Rivals’ Eric Bossi, he has scheduled three more: to UNC the weekend of Dec. 15, to Duke the weekend of Jan. 19, and to Kansas the weekend of Feb. 2.

The 6-foot-9, 215-pound Minnesota native, who has been playing on the varsity team since he was a seventh-grader, is listed as a power forward. However, his game may actually be more suited on the wing; his perimeter skills and slender frame appear similar to former Blue Devil star Mike Dunleavy.

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"“I think most scouting reports are right because I can shoot it, I can go inside and out,” Hurt told Bossi. “But I think I’m more athletic than people think I am. That’s a big thing. I think my quickness is pretty good and I can use my length to my advantage when I’m guarding.”"

Hurt also told Bossi he is well aware that plenty of playing time is likely to be up for grabs in Durham next season after expected departures to the NBA of three — maybe four — freshmen starters. He also pointed out that he knows the reputation of Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff for getting players ready for the pros.

"“They say they need me because three for sure are going to leave after this year,” Hurt said. “So, they are going to need some scoring next year. Coach K runs an NBA kind of system so it would get me ready for the NBA, that’s what he says to me.”"

Currently, none of the experts at the 247Sports Crystal Ball are predicting Hurt will end up a Blue Devil (83 percent think he’ll choose the Jayhawks). However, considering he has only taken one official visit and is not expected to decide on a college until possibly late spring, a lot can still change in his recruitment. He told Bossi that his fifth official visit (max number allowed) will likely be to either Minnesota, Villanova, or Memphis.

Thus far, Coach K and Co. have snagged commitments from two 2019 recruits: five-star small forward Wendell Moore (ranked No. 24 on the composite ranking) and four-star combo guard Boogie Ellis (ranked No. 36). Each signed a letter of intent last month.

In addition to Hurt, the staff has offers extended to five-star big men Vernon Carey Jr. (ranked No. 2) and Isaiah Stewart (ranked No. 6). Carey Jr. is announcing his college choice at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday.

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