Duke Basketball: Matthew Hurt sets time for likely another Coach K win

Unless the consensus among experts across a couple of major sites is wrong, Matthew Hurt’s upcoming announcement — the time of which has changed but now seems set in stone — will delight Duke basketball fans.

Matthew Hurt is an entertainer — whether the soon-to-be 19-year-old knows it or not. Most any party held on a court would want to book the scoring spectacle’s growing-in-fame show. But the chatter along the recruiting trail suggests the Duke basketball party will be the only party to benefit from the college version of his performance.

Whether the news is to be thrilling or crushing for the Blue Devils, though, the five-star 2019 power forward will announce his college choice on Friday, the day before his birthday. And the time, which was originally to be at 2:30 p.m. CST, is now set for 3:15 — or 4:15 on the East Coast — according to a tweet on Wednesday from KTTC-TV sports director Pat Lund.

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The announcement will take place at his John Marshall High School’s auditorium; anyone may attend. While nobody has publicly committed to broadcasting a live-stream, several are sure to pop up across social media in the hours leading up to the announcement (also possible some ESPN channel will air the event).

Hurt, who set Minnesota high school records for career points (3,819) and rebounds (1,461), ranks No. 8 on the 247Sports Composite and seems to be down to the four schools he officially visited: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and UNC.

Experts are in general agreement, however, the 6-foot-9, 215-pound versatile bucket-getter will tell the college basketball world he’s headed to Durham. Not only do 65 percent of the 247Sports Crystal Ball experts — including lead expert and near-perfect prognosticator Evan Daniels — predict Hurt’s blood is Duke blue, but Rivals’ top three recruiting gurus concur.

Considering Duke’s recent recruiting successes and the fact Hurt’s father, Richard, canceled in-home visits from Kentucky and Kansas coaches last weekend — plus, the family has expressed high praise for the Blue Devils’ returning point guard, Tre Jones — the prediction of Hurt to Duke seems like a no-brainer.

ALSO READ: 2019 PF Matthew Hurt shuts down recruitment

Yet fans should realize announcements from teenagers don’t always turn out the way experts expect.

If this McDonald’s All-American’s announcement does line up with expectations, though, the Blue Devils will have their third 2019 five-star, joining center Vernon Carey Jr. (ranks No. 3), who signed his letter of intent today, and small forward Wendell Moore (ranks No. 22), who signed back in the fall.

Duke also has a signature from four-star combo guard Boogie Ellis (ranks No. 34) and an offer on the table to four-star shooting guard Cassius Stanley (ranks No. 29), who will announce his college choice on Saturday (time is unknown).

ALSO READ: Durham has ample airspace for 2019 G Cassius Stanley

UPDATE: Shortly after this article’s publishing, Stanley tweeted news of his decision to postpone his announcement until Monday (time still unknown).

While Duke basketball fans eagerly and optimistically await Hurt’s announcement, they can catch a new preview of the talent — who would surely be a crowd favorite in Cameron Indoor Stadium, yet likely for only one season before heading to the NBA — in the form of his latest mixtape, courtesy of Courtside Films:

Although Hurt trails a bit in terms of athleticism, his game is similar to that of former Duke great Mike Dunleavy. Or one could say he is a more athletic — and more polished — version of former Blue Devil Ryan Kelly. Or maybe he’s just a skinnier version of Kyle Singler or Danny Ferry.

Stepping outside of comparisons to #TheBrotherhood, his fadeaway off one foot is reminiscent of that of Dirk Nowitzki. And his overall wizardry as a scorer sparks memories of — not to put too much pressure on the guy — one Larry Bird.

But the best bet is Matthew Hurt, whose defense definitely still needs work, will simply be the one-and-only Matthew Hurt. And if Duke fans get their wish, they will witness a show next season from Hurt — as a proud Blue Devil — that they will forever remember as one epic celebration of basketball.

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