Utah Jazz: 4 reasons to eye Duke basketball draft prospect Matthew Hurt
By Matt Giles
A Duke basketball product seems to check plenty of boxes for the Utah Jazz.
Barring any trades, the Utah Jazz will own only one pick in the entire 2021 NBA Draft on July 29. And assuming the current league-leading team in Salt Lake City finishes strong across its remaining regular-season slate, the franchise’s lone selection will be one of the last few in the first round.
Therefore, the chances are slim of snagging an instant gem this go-round. However, there does exist a two-year Duke basketball star who should be on Utah’s draft radar as a possible treasure down the road. That player is Matthew Hurt, a former five-star recruit from Minnesota.
Now, we’ll examine four reasons, one at a time, why Hurt could serve as an ideal choice for the Jazz…
Why the Utah Jazz might draft Matthew Hurt: Potential availability
Following a delay that had some Duke basketball fans feeling somewhat optimistic about Matthew Hurt returning as a junior to build on his All-ACC First Team sophomore campaign, he announced on April 14 his decision to both declare for the NBA Draft and hire an agent.
While many mock drafts continue to designate Hurt as a second-rounder, his stock appears to be on the rise a smidge since officially putting his name in the mix. In fact, as of Sunday, widely respected CBS Sports insider Gary Parrish sees the 2021 ACC Most Improved Player going No. 28 overall to the Los Angeles Clippers.
In other words, it’s certainly reasonable to view the 21-year-old as worthy of a late first-round pick. Plus, there’s a decent probability that Hurt will still be available when Utah is on the clock.
So on that note, let’s look at Hurt’s Jazz-esque attributes…