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UNC Basketball: Matthew Hurt insists his recruitment is wide open

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 20: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during their game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Dean Smith Center on January 20, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 20: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during their game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Dean Smith Center on January 20, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Five-star prospect exploring options, hoping to make fall decision

Matthew Hurt was just one week removed from winning gold at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in St. Catherines, Canada when he sat down with Guy Limbeck of the Post Bulletin to discuss Team USA, recruiting, front-runners and timetable for a decision.

"“It was really an honor and I feel pretty proud,” Hurt said of playing for Team USA in the FIBA Americas U18 Tournament. “All the teams have different playing styles but . . . we were around them, hanging out in the same area where we were living,” Hurt continued. “. . .And hanging out with some of the guys, it was pretty fun.”"

The 6-foot-9, 199-pound power forward scored the fourth-most points on the team over the six-game FIBA tournament, averaging nearly 15 per game. He led the team in three-point shooting and blocked shots, and was second in rebounding and overall shooting percentage.

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Hurt, a five-star prospect and senior at John Marshall Senior in Rochester, Minnesota, also touched on his experience with Bill Self – who coached the gold medal-winning team – and how that relationship could assist him in making a decision when the time comes.

"“. . . playing under coach Self, I think that was pretty cool,” Hurt said. “I think that helps it out because learning from him, knowing what he likes, knowing what he doesn’t like, what he runs, what kind of defense he runs, if I do commit to him, I’ll be more comfortable right when I come in.”"

Hurt did, however, address the rumors that Self and the Jayhawks are the current front-runners in his recruitment.

"“No, that’s not true,” he said. “I think every coach has the same chance right now because I’m just trying to fit my playing style in that system. And it could be any system. I’m just going to try and make that right decision for myself.”"

Hurt’s father, Richard, told Limbeck that the current favorites are Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Minnesota, North Carolina and UCLA. He also made it clear that he would love for his son to choose Minnesota – where Hurt’s brother Michael already plays – but that the decision was completely up to his son.

Hurt said that he would like to make a decision by the time his senior season at John Marshall begins in November, but that it could easily get pushed to the spring, depending on how things go.

Next: Tar Heels' 2019 class could look a lot like this...

Hurt is currently ranked No. 4 in the class of 2019 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the No. 2 player at his position and the top prospect in the state of Minnesota.

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