Adidas Gauntlet: Hurt leads D1 Minnesota to the Semis
This morning at the Adidas Gauntlet Finale, Matthew Hurt and D1 Minnesota will play ITPS in the semis. Hurt has been incredible through three games so far.
Hurt went at Brookfield Elite scoring 17 points on 8 of 15 shooting with four boards and three assists. Hurt missed his four three point attempts but he helped limit Makur Maker – brother of Milwaukee Bucks Thon Maker 0 to 4 of 18 shooting from the field. Pitino, Calipari, and Self were the head coaches that scheduled their first July weekend around Hurt and the five star forward certainly delivered. In the nightcap against Green, Hurt put up a double-double scoring on 9 of 14 attempts for 19 points and 10 rebounds while Green was held to 4 of 12 shooting (15 points).
Stanford committed Tyrell Terry had 15 points and 3 assists in the first game followed by eight points and six assists in game two.
Zeke Nnaji paired with Hurt to shut down Maker while putting 14 points in the book on 7 of 13 field goal shooting. After the game Nnaji quickly listedthe schools he’s hearing from most commonly.
“Probably the schools that I talk to the most are Arizona, Ohio State, Indiana, UCLA, Wisconsin, Baylor,” Nnaji said. “I am not going to narrow things down until after the AAU season is over with. Around August or September—get it down to a final five. Take officials and then by the time high school season starts, I’m definitely going to make a commitment.”
Nnaji, Hurt, and D1 Minnesota – the third ranked 17 and Under team in the nation according to PrepHoops.com – then played Team Loaded, and Hurt earned national attention.
Yesterday was the big one though as the opponent was five star nationally elite big man Isaiah Todd from Team Loaded NC. Matthew defended Todd limiting the 2020 star to only two makes in 14 attempts (7 points total) while Hurt went at Todd, Team Loaded, and everyone in the crowd scoring 29 points on 1o of 14 shooting plus gave six rebounds and six assists. Add in a couple threes, a couple blocks, 7 of 7 foul shooting and it was the type of day even five star players would be jealous of.
John Calipari, Richard Pitino, and a long list others watched Hurt start the game with a baseline attack finished on the other side of the rim beating the rotating defense to the box. Transition plays were next with Hurt using a perfect K-Love outlet pass for a score and then pushing on the break a few possessions later to take contact and finish. A few minutes later Hurt Euro-stepped by a defender in transition for the Ice Man finger roll and his wrap around pass as well as the quick touch pass off the baseline in-bounds play to the cutter went for scores.
The play that angered Hurt was a second reverse lay-up: this time while getting knocked flat on his back. This clearly agitated Hurt who didn’t get the call so Matthew attacked baseline a few possessions later and dunk over a rotating big. Add in another transition throw down and it was a 29 point performance talked about across the nation. After the game media talked with Hurt about recruiting getting about the same message that’s been routinely given until Hurt takes the next step .
“I haven’t really thought about (a timeline) yet, I’m kind of focused on AAU, but then at the end of July I will start wrapping things up and try to get some visits scheduled,” Matthew said. “My parents, my family are helping me with this. They want me to make the decision that will make me happy.”
Matthew then again listed the schools really making a push for his services in the future.
“Minnesota, Kansas, Memphis, Kentucky, Duke, Indiana, UCLA, North Carolina, and that’s about it,” Hurt said.