STrib: Prized recruit Matthew Hurt seeks one last prize before leaving Rochester John Marshall
Matthew Hurt doesn’t hesitate when choosing his favorite subject in high school. He loves math, especially the stats class he’s taking this year.
“It comes easy to me,” he said.
Fitting, because the Rochester John Marshall senior knows a thing or two about stats in a different realm.
Hurt’s basketball résumé is chock-full of gaudy numbers. Only one thing is missing from one of the greatest individual prep careers in Minnesota hoops history: an appearance in the state tournament.
Hurt has one last chance to amend that. The state’s all-time leading scorer among big schools and one of the nation’s top recruits carries John Marshall into section play of the postseason this week.
The Rockets have lost to Lakeville North in the Class 4A, Section 1 championship six consecutive years. Hurt has been part of five of those losses, dating to his seventh-grade season. A few of those games were close and easily could have swung the other way.
Lakeville North is the top seed and favorite again in Section 1. JM is the No. 2 seed. Motivation is not hard to find.
“We want it bad,” Hurt said. “We’re hungry for it.”
Whatever the outcome, Hurt’s legacy already is cemented.
With 41 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the Rockets’ 87-70 victory over Rochester Century to open the section playoffs Wednesday night, he has scored 3,745 points in his career, which is third-most in state history. He also holds the big-school state record for rebounds with 1,439.
Hurt has led the state in scoring (all classes) three consecutive seasons. During the regular season, he averaged 36.7 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.
http://www.startribune.com/prized-r...re-leaving-rochester-john-marshall/506799462/
Go Gophers!!