Hurt averaged 21.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a junior with a season-high 43 points versus Osseo. He scored in double figures in all but one game, finishing with nine points in a 87-52 win over Albert Lea. John Marshall finished 23-6 this past se
Michael Hurt, a 6-foot-7 junior forward from Rochester (MN) John Marshall, committed to Minnesota in January. Hurt is ranked as Minnesota’s number two player in the Class of 2016 behind Hopkins’ Amir Coffey.
Hurt averaged 21.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a junior with a season-high 43 points versus Osseo. He scored in double figures in all but one game, finishing with nine points in a 87-52 win over Albert Lea. John Marshall finished 23-6 this past season, losing to Lakeville North 62-51 in the Section 1AAAA championship game for the third straight year.
Hurt averaged 16.1 points and nine rebounds per game as a sophomore with a season-high 30 points versus Mankato East. John Marshall finished 20-9 last season, losing to eventual state champion Lakeville North 96-61 in the Section 1AAAA championship game.
Gopher Hole caught up with Hurt after his practice with the D1 Minnesota 17-and-under team to learn the latest on his junior season and upcoming AAU season.
Gopher Hole: You guys finished 2-2 in Dallas, but had a couple of tough losses. How pleased were you with how well you played in your first tournament of the year?
Michael Hurt: We really saw some good things out of our team, but we also saw some things we definitely need to work on. Turnovers were a big thing. We had 18 a game, but we know that we are right up there with every single team. We had three one-point games, so we know that we are right there with some of the top competition.
Gopher Hole: You have improved a lot as a high school player, but you are not always playing against the best competition. During the AAU season, you are playing against players that are being recruited by everyone. How much do you think that helps you improve your game?
Michael Hurt: Just being able to prepare myself for what I’ll expect at the college level, because a lot of these guys will be playing at the next level. Using it as an experience to get better, instead of having to showcase my talents to college coaches now.
Gopher Hole: Now that you are done with recruitment, is it a nice feeling going into these events because you don’t have to worry about recruiting like you would have if you hadn’t committed already?
Michael Hurt: Yes. Just trying to focus more on my game rather than trying to showcase it to other teams and trying to help my team win.
Gopher Hole: You came up a little bit short against to Lakeville North again in the section finals, but you have a lot of your key players back. What are the expectations for the Rockets next year?
Michael Hurt: Obviously, we want to first, take it one step at a time and eventually win the Big Nine and hopefully, get back to sections and hopefully, make it to state this year. We have been blessed to get there three years in a row and hopefully, we can make it four.
Gopher Hole: Obviously, this upcoming season is going to be your senior year and you guys have gotten better each season. Is that what you guys have been thinking and that is your year?
Michael Hurt: Yes and hopefully with the help of our guards that we have right now Isaiah (Walden) and (younger brother) Matthew as well, getting another year of experience, I hope that it will really help us out.
Gopher Hole: What things are you really focusing on to continue to improve yourself as a player?
Michael Hurt: Really, just trying to get my three off at any time, but also working on trying to get some dribble penetration. That was one thing that I did pretty well in Dallas, was being able to get to the lane and get fouled and finish as well.
Gopher Hole: The Gophers didn’t have quite the season that they had hoped for, due to some injuries and close losses. What were your impressions with the Gophers this year?
Michael Hurt: I see a lot of good things, coming up a lot of good players and how the recruits are coming in like Jarvis (Johnson), Kevin (Dorsey) and how all of them do. I am really excited about what we have going on right now
Gopher Hole: Do you try to follow some of the Gopher recruits to see how they are doing?
Michael Hurt: Yes. I follow a couple and see how they are doing for the AAU season.