Q&A: Matthew Hurt Making Impact As 8th Grader, Gophers Showing Strong, Early Interest

[GopherHole Staff]

Q&A: Matthew Hurt Making Impact As 8th Grader, Gophers Showing Strong, Early Interest

Q&A: Matthew Hurt Making Impact As 8th Grader, Gophers Showing Strong, Early Interest
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/467120?referrer_id=388419

Matthew Hurt, a 6-foot-6 eighth grade forward from Rochester (MN) John Marshall, is considered Minnesota's top players in the Class of 2019. Hurt averaged 18 points and eight rebounds per game as a seventh grader on the Rockets' "B" last season as he shot 60% from the field and 49% from three-point range. His strong play earned him a call-up to the varsity.

John Marshall finished 20-9 last season, losing to eventual state champion Lakeville North 96-61 in the Section 1AAAA championship game and they are off to a great start this year.

Hurt comes from a basketball family. His older brother, Michael, is one of the top juniors in the state and has a scholarship offer from Minnesota. His father, Richard, was a captain of the Rockets' 1988-89 team and his mother, Jenny, was a star for John Marshall, who graduated in 1990.

Gopher Hole caught up with Hurt after a recent game to learn the latest on his early recruitment and current season.

Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment right now? Are you starting to hear from some more schools since I know that it is so early being only in eighth grade?

Matthew Hurt: I am hearing from Minnesota and Northwestern. Those Midwest teams. It is great having colleges look at me and I just to take my time and have fun with the recruitment.

Gopher Hole: How nice is it to finally get back on the court? I know that you are a competitive kid. How tough was it to not to be able to play, due to the spleen injury?

Matthew Hurt: It feels great to be with my team again because I love them and they are my brothers. I love playing every second with them on the court.

Gopher Hole: You had 17 and 16 points in your first two games coming back. How pleased are you with how well you have been playing?

Matthew Hurt: I am pleased with how I have been playing because I am getting efficient and my defense has really stepped up lately. I am happy that I am back on the court with my team.

Gopher Hole: How nice is it to playing with your brother because most teams don't have two big guys that can match up with the two of you. How nice is it to have him out there?

Matthew Hurt: It feels great because he is always double or triple teamed and I am always kind of open and can get those easy baskets, so it is kind of fun playing with him. A lot of fun.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Oh, lord - we're recruiting an 8th grader. A freakin' 8th grader. I don't care if this kid is Mark Olberding and Kahlid El-Amin rolled into one. I don't want to hear about how the Gophers are recruiting an 8th grader.

Personally, I don't think that schools should be allowed to have any contact with HS players until they are in HS - meaning, have started their Sophomore year. Let kids be kids.

 

[Go4]

well, thanks for that short ornery norwegian. the self-described ornery one is living up to his name.

you cared enough about him to open the thread and post about it. you could have easily read the headline, decided to skip this one, but instead you opened it, and posted about it. if the hurt family doesn't want their son recruited in 8th grade, they can make that decision and tell the coaches to come back in a few years. my guess is they won't, nor would 99.9% of families. let threads be threads.

 

[Dr.Don]

Oh, lord - we're recruiting an 8th grader. A freakin' 8th grader. I don't care if this kid is Mark Olberding and Kahlid El-Amin rolled into one. I don't want to hear about how the Gophers are recruiting an 8th grader.

Personally, I don't think that schools should be allowed to have any contact with HS players until they are in HS - meaning, have started their Sophomore year. Let kids be kids.

Ok, so let someone else step in and steal him away because you are director of recruiting and you have your rules.

Suck an egg, a rotten egg.

 

[schlegs]

hes already as tall as his brother, quicker, stronger looks more polished..... he is a better eight grader than tyus was imo and as long as he keeps it up should be one of the better recruits minnesota has had in while.....rreminds me of deker not quite as explosive yet

 

[alchemy2u]

Oh, lord - we're recruiting an 8th grader. A freakin' 8th grader. I don't care if this kid is Mark Olberding and Kahlid El-Amin rolled into one. I don't want to hear about how the Gophers are recruiting an 8th grader.

Personally, I don't think that schools should be allowed to have any contact with HS players until they are in HS - meaning, have started their Sophomore year. Let kids be kids.

He is playing varsity on his high school basketball team, that makes him open for discussion. Also, many high schools include the freshman, so ninth graders are in the HS.

 

[WanderingGopher]

Personally, I don't think that schools should be allowed to have any contact with HS players until they are in HS - meaning, have started their Sophomore year.

Well that's a good way to ensure it's the handlers rather than legitimate college coaches that are getting close to these kids.

 

[GopherJake]

Oh, lord - we're recruiting an 8th grader. A freakin' 8th grader. I don't care if this kid is Mark Olberding and Kahlid El-Amin rolled into one. I don't want to hear about how the Gophers are recruiting an 8th grader.

Personally, I don't think that schools should be allowed to have any contact with HS players until they are in HS - meaning, have started their Sophomore year. Let kids be kids.

I agree. Tough to enforce this, but one thing they could do is make it against the rules to "make an offer" until some certain point - say, junior year of HS. Not sure if this would change anything - probably not.