Duke Blue Devils forward Matthew Hurt declares for NBA draft

Mar 9, 2021; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Matthew Hurt (21) drives to the basket against Boston College Eagles forward James Karnik (33) during the second half in the first round of the 2021 ACC men's basketball tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 9, 2021; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Matthew Hurt (21) drives to the basket against Boston College Eagles forward James Karnik (33) during the second half in the first round of the 2021 ACC men's basketball tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

Duke sophomore forward Matthew Hurt announced Wednesday that he is entering the NBA draft.

Hurt was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection this season after averaging 18.3 points and 6.2 rebounds in 24 games. He made 44.4 percent of his shots (56-126) from 3-point range.

“It was always a dream of mine to play at Duke, and it’s also a dream of mine to play in the NBA,” Hurt said in a joint announcement with the school on Twitter. “Duke has made me a better player and person, and has put me in a position to take this next step in my career. …

“Although I will miss putting on the Duke jersey, it means so much that I’ll have a part in the Duke Brotherhood for life.”

Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski said the 20-year-old Hurt will impress NBA teams with his work ethic and skills.

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“The NBA team that drafts Matthew is getting a player very dedicated to his craft,” Krzyzewski said. “He is already a pro in how he approaches the game and approaches his development as a player and a person.”

The 6-foot-9 Hurt shot 55.6 percent from the field this season, including a stellar 63.9 percent on two-point attempts.

–Field Level Media

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