Duke sophomore Matthew Hurt will declare the NBA draft in 2021 and waive his remaining admission to the university by appointing an agent, he told ESPN on Wednesday.
Hurt, the prospect no. 48 in the ESPN 100, was named the first All-ACC team and the winner of the ACC’s most improved player award after scoring 18.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while 44.4% of the 3-point series shot down.
The 20-year-old Hurt, 6 feet 9, is considered one of the most skilled attacking players in the NBA draft, with the second-best 3-point percentage of any player currently scheduled to be drafted, after Baylor’s Davion Mitchell .
With the premium that NBA teams make on the outside in the three-point happy era, a player like Hurt will be attractive with his ability to stretch defense with his elite combination of size and shooting touch.
More than just a catch-and-shoot specialist, Hurt also favorably divided into different categories for his ability to score inside the arc, converting 48% of his dribble shots, according to Synergy Sports Technology, as well as 71% of his post- efforts on and 69% of his transition opportunities.
Hurt will be only the second player in the last 30 years of college basketball to be drafted after shooting more than 63% inside the arc and 44% outside, along with Doug McDermott of Creighton.
Hurt, a decorated high school-level prospect, won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in 2018. He was named Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball and earn invitations to the McDonald’s All American Game and Nike Hope Summit in 2019.
Duke lost hope of the post-season when one of his players tested positive COVID-19 hours before the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament, forcing the team to withdraw from the event and end its season effectively.
The NBA draft is executed on July 29th. A draft combination scheduled for June 21 will feature competitive 5-to-5 action subject to public health conditions.