ENDERLIN, N.D. (Newsdakota.com) – June 15 was the first day college programs could contact recruits, and Enderlin junior Joe Hurlburt’s phone was busy.
“I think 21 schools, D-1 wise, called him on the phone yesterday,” said Enderlin Boys Basketball Head Coach Calvin Craft.
The University of Colorado was one of 21 schools to contact the 6’10 junior. Hurlburt announced on his Twitter Monday evening that they extended an offer. Colorado was the only school to offer yesterday and joins home-state University of North Dakota as the first schools to offer Hurlburt.
More will surely come.
“USD (South Dakota), SDSU, NDSU, UND all the way to Wisconsin, Virginia, Oregon State… so he’s got interest from pretty much every single major conference and every single mid-major conference,” said Craft.
These offers represent something Hurlburt has been seeking for a while.
“It’s definitely a blessing. I always dreamed of playing at the highest level as a young kid… it’s really cool that some of those schools are reaching out,” said Hurlburt.
With two years of high school left, committing to a college doesn’t need to be addressed immediately, but Hurlburt knows what to focus on when deciding on a school comes to the forefront.
“I just want to find the best fit for me as a player, as a person and I want to have a great relationship with the coaching staff,” said Hurlburt.
In the mean time Hurlburt is focused on improving.
“I’m definitely focusing on getting stronger, said Hurlburt. “I’ve been in the weight room a lot with my coach working on speed, strength, all that.”
Coach Craft says the next two years will be a good test and a chance to improve because teams will be highlighting him.
“[Other team’s] most important and favorite thing to do is gonna be able to guard him on a Tuesday night. You get to play against somebody like that once in your life or twice in your life,” said Craft.
When asked if he was going to be ready to compete at a high level of college basketball in a couple years, both Hurlburt and Craft agreed.
“All the boxes are checked. Position-less basketball is coming around. He fits right into that. He fits in exactly what teams like that are going to need,” said Craft.
“I’ve gotta keep working, but if I keep working and developing I think I can, yeah,” said Hurlburt.