Three Duke basketball players most likely to leave early next year
By Matt Giles
Duke basketball players who look to be next early departures: Matthew Hurt
Forward. Matthew Hurt. 21. Scouting Report. Sophomore. player. 434. Pick Analysis
Probability of Matthew Hurt’s early departure next spring: 80 percent
From the time of his commitment to Duke until a few games into his freshman campaign last season, the general assumption was that Matthew Hurt would undoubtedly be a one-and-done Blue Devil. But by the time ACC play was well underway, most regular observers had sincere doubts about the former five-star recruit’s NBA readiness.
To be fair, though, Hurt had some highlight moments last season that suggest a respectable NBA career is in his future. Plus, remember that before his disappearance across the final three games, the 6-foot-9, 215-pound stretch-four was averaging double figures in scoring (he wound up at 9.7 points per game and with a 39.3 percent clip from beyond the arc) for a Duke team that went 25-6 and ranked No. 11 in the final AP Poll.
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As long as the 20-year-old adds just enough strength this summer so as to not end up as a pancake in the paint next season, seeing that he should be in line for increased minutes and touches as a sophomore, chances are Matthew Hurt will be a professional hoopster somewhere the season after next.