Duke Basketball: Kansas may know trick to slow Coach K’s recruiting

To beat the man who has landed the Duke basketball program the nation’s top recruiting class three years running, it seems one school is willing to get creative.

The Kansas Jayhawks, as reported via a tweet from the Post Bulletin’s Pat Ruff, offered scholarships last week to two high school freshmen: the sister of Duke basketball target Matthew Hurt and her teammate.

Oh, by the way, Kansas also happens to be one of the frontrunners for Matthew Hurt.

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Some may view the Jayhawks’ offers to Katie Hurt and Lilly Meister as a coincidence. Those whose smell is stronger than their vision, though, would likely say that it reeks of something more.

Meister and both Hurts play for John Marshall High School in Rochester, Minn.

Hurt has not put out an official list of his possible college destinations; however, it is assumed he is deciding between Minnesota and those that have either already hosted him for an official visit or are set to host him for an official visit: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and UNC.

ALSO READ: Matthew Hurt to be in Cameron Indoor Stadium for Virginia game

The 247Sports Crystal Ball favors the Jayhawks to land the 6-foot-9, 215-pound five-star forward who ranks No. 7 on the 247Sports Composite for the 2019 class.

But Kansas coach Bill Self is surely well aware of the power of his competition for Hurt.

Since that competition includes the current wizard of recruiting, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, Self surely knows nothing is in the bag until Hurt pulls out of a bag an article of clothing with a Jayhawk logo on it during his announcement ceremony.

And considering that Hurt isn’t likely to decide on a program until April, Self has plenty of time to unveil all of his tricks.

Maybe Hurt has a cat or dog that Kansas can offer a scholarship. Whatever tactics the Jayhawks decide to use, nobody should get upset.

Besides, it isn’t really fair that all Coach K has to do is look at a recruit in order to seal the deal — the Blue Devils’ 39th-year head honcho has hauled in the No. 1 class in the country three straight years and in four of the past five.

Therefore, nobody should blame Self if he is willing to do anything possible to snag Hurt, whose joy-to-watch inside-out game includes an array of swift moves, deft passes, and a smooth stroke from deep — he seems like a cross between former Duke basketball players Mike Dunleavy and Danny Ferry.

Coach K has already received commitments from three 2019 recruits: five-star center Vernon Carey Jr. (ranked No. 2), five-star small forward Wendell Moore (ranked No. 24), and four-star combo guard Boogie Ellis (ranked No. 36).

The Blue Devils currently have the nation’s No. 6 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.

Five-star center Isaiah Stewart, who has indicated he is close to announcing, is the only prospect other than Hurt who holds an outstanding offer from the all-time winningest college basketball coach.

ALSO READ: Durham has ample room for both Isaiah Stewart and Matthew Hurt

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball recruiting updates, analysis, opinions, and predictions.