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About Matthew Hurt
• Matthew Hurt is a skilled power forward with great touch as a shooter who had a remarkably efficient year as the most reliable scorer on a young Duke team. Emerging as a top prospect early in his prep career, Hurt averaged 14 points and 5.3 rebounds per game to help the United States to a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championship before earning a spot at the Nike Hoop Summit and McDonald’s All-American Game following his senior year at John Marshall High School (MN). Heading to Duke to play for Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Hurt scored 9.7 points per game as a freshman while coming up big on several occasions in ACC play. Averaging 18.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore, the 21-year-old forward stepped into a key role for the Blue Devils in route to All-ACC 1st Team honors.
• Listed at 6’9 with an improving 235-pound frame and average length, Hurt has decent dimension for a power forward. He impacts the game more with his shooting touch and instincts than his athleticism.
• Filling a key role on an inexperienced Duke team, Hurt served as the team’s most reliable floor spacer, main option in the post, and hunted shots in a variety of ways on the perimeter. Ranking among the most efficient scorers in college basketball, Hurt’s ability to make shots with deft touch from all three levels stood out all season.
• Displaying good timing and a solid feel for navigating matchups with more athletic forwards on the defense end, Hurt made some strides as a sophomore.
Advanced Stats
• Emerging as a dangerous perimeter threat early in his career, Hurt’s ability to make set shots, turnaround jumpers, and contested midrange attempts out of rhythm remain a big part of his game.
• With over half of his shots coming on the perimeter last season, he averaged 1.19 points per jump shot in the half court [92nd percentile]. Cocking the ball back and shooting with a high release point, Hurt was extremely reliable in space and flashed good range off the dribble last season. He also did much of his damage in the post spinning into jumpers and the sheer volume of miscellaneous attempts he tossed in around defenders and off jabs last season was a testament to his natural touch.
• Able to play above the rim in space but proving more fluid than explosive as a finisher, Hurt’s touch and timing helped him average 1.31 points per shot around the rim in the half court [80th percentile]. Moving intelligently off the ball and able to put the ball on the floor against defenders playing him for his jumper, Hurt proved opportunistic inside and in transition last season even if he attempted some touch shots over length.
• As well as he shot the ball overall as a sophomore, Hurt has some room to improve in pick and pop situations and at the line. His vision as a passer will also be important as he looks to translate his efficient style of play against most athletic defenders.
• Ranked 1st in the ACC in post up scoring (4.5 points per game)
Defensive Analysis
• Making an effort to help and rotate defensively, Hurt did a nice job being in the right place off the ball last season. He gave up length and quickness in some matchups but allowed 0.82 points per isolation possession [37th percentile] displaying a feel for leaving a cushion to help him deal with more dynamic athletes one-on-one.
• Providing more of a presence on the glass some games than others, Hurt is more instinctual than he is physical on the glass.
— Profile by Synergy Sports
