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Duke Basketball: Coach K visits 2019 PF Matthew Hurt on Valentine’s Day

By Matt Giles

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski will reportedly be in attendance tonight to watch one of the top uncommitted 2019 talents, a magician on the hardwood who could help spin the 2019-20 roster into gold.

With or without the return next season of current Duke basketball freshman Tre Jones, the Blue Devils’ recipe to be 2019-20 title favorites calls for another drop or two of five-star talent.

So it’s no surprise coach Mike Krzyzewski’s plans on Valentine’s Day include traveling to Jones’ home state to increase his odds of securing what may be the one missing ingredient to his 2019 recruiting class: another beloved Blue Devil from Minnesota.

Rochester native Matthew Hurt., who ranks No. 8 on the 247Sports Composite, will play in front of the college game’s all-time wins leader on Thursday night when his John Marshall High School hosts nearby Northfield, according to a tweet from Stadium’s Jeff Goodman.

The 6-foot-9, 215-pound power forward, who often scores 40-plus with his array of beyond-his-years moves and brings to mind a cross between former Duke greats Mike Dunleavy and Danny Ferry, took his official visit to Duke the weekend of Jan. 19 and was in attendance for the Blue Devils’ first of two wins over Virginia.

He has also taken official visits to UNC, Kansas, and Kentucky. Minnesota seems to be the only other school with a shot to land the basketball wizard with hawk-like court vision, guard-like passing precision, and a knack for regularly making the right decision.

Speaking of his decision, he is not likely to make it known until April, possibly as late as May. And since he is the only current prospect holding an outstanding offer from Coach K and one of only a handful of uncommitted 2019 five-stars, when he plays in the McDonald’s All-American Game on March 27, his looming decision is sure to attract plenty of attention.

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The addition of Hurt alone would likely mark Krzyzewski’s fourth consecutive No. 1 recruiting class — would be fifth of the last six and sixth straight finishing in the top two, per 247Sports’ class rankings. That being said, the Blue Devils do not register on the 247Sports Crystal Ball (Kansas is the favorite, yet several experts have repeatedly expressed the opinion that Duke remains a strong contender to have the luxury of Hurts’ services next season — probably his only season before turning pro).

ALSO READ: Duke needs nation’s top recruiting class yet again

The current list of 2019 Duke commitments includes five-star center Vernon Carey Jr. (ranks No. 3 on the composite), five-star small forward Wendell Moore (ranks No. 22), and four-star combo guard Boogie Ellis (ranks No. 34).

Three other doors remain open for Coach K’s 2019 class: the reclassification of five-star 2020 guard R.J. Hampton, the addition of a graduate transfer, and the late recruitment of another undecided 2019 talent (only 13 of the top 100 remain uncommitted at this point, though).

ALSO READ: R.J. Hampton lists final five, may reclassify to 2019

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

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