Minnesota coach Richard Pitino is expected to see Rochester John Marshall five-star senior forward Matthew Hurt on Thursday for the second time after an in-home visit last week, a source familiar with the situation told the Star Tribune.

Pitino, who was in Kansas on Wednesday checking out his newly committed four-star Sunrise Christian forward Tray Jackson, is definitely making sure the Gophers prioritize Hurt as much as any program recruiting him. 

How much of a difference will that make, with Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas and others making trips to Rochester for face time since the contact period began Sept. 9? 

That’s something only time will tell. It surely doesn't hurt. And it sends a strong message.

Hurt, though, has not scheduled any official visits and doesn’t appear to be in any rush to announce his finalists right now. He’s working on a different timetable than the typical process, but Hurt’s in a position as a top-10 talent in his class to be patient if he wants to.

In a few weeks, Hurt will be joining the top 80 players in the country at the USA junior national team's first minicamp next month in Colorado Springs.

Hurt’s older brother, Michael, meanwhile will be getting things going soon with Minnesota’s first practice of the 2018-19 college hoops season next Tuesday. The 6-foot-7 junior forward will get a chance to show how much his hard work this offseason has paid off.

“I’m excited for him,” Matthew said this summer. “I think this is going to be a really big year for him. I think it’s going to be his breakout year. He’s worked so hard in the gym and the weight room. I know he has that mindset to take over games, because I’ve seen it in high school. He’s always had that mindset. Personally, I think he’s going to be one of the most underrated players in the Big Ten and nationally, too.”

Matthew has been training with Michael every summer since before they were teammates in high school, including in Santa Barbara for a week last month. So he knows better than anyone how much his big bro has improved since entering college.

“Since he’s got to college, he’s gotten a lot stronger and a lot quicker,” Matthew said. “He can really defend now and defend multiple positions. He’s always in the gym putting up shots. He also developed the little things that coaches see, but most people don’t see. I think the little things he does separates him.”

Michael's got two more years in college, so he's talked about wanting to play with his younger brother. You can bet Pitino is using that angle as much as he can in chats with the Hurt family over the last week. At the least, the Gophers probably will get an official visit from Matthew, but nothing is set up yet.

-- Next up for Gophers official visits scheduled right now is Pebblebrook High School (Ga.) big man Jared Jones on Oct. 6. Jones, who visited Northwestern last weekend, is also reportedly set to make a trip to Wake Forest this weekend and Georgia on Sept. 28 before coming to the Twin Cities.

-- After landing Jackson last week, Minnesota hosted Breck forward David Roddy over the weekend. Roddy enjoyed his official visit to the home state program, but he’s not ready to make a decision. His Oct. 13 visit to Northwestern still planned.

-- On Wednesday, Pitino was also invited to check out where his new assistant Kyle Lindsted grew up in Wichita. Lindsted introduced his boss to the family buffalo. Yes, it was seriously a buffalo, as Pitino tweeted a pic for proof.

When you hire a guy from Kansas you get to stop by and meet his family’s pet buffalo when you recruit in Kansas. No, I’m not kidding. pic.twitter.com/ZGkflqjDX5

— Richard Pitino (@CoachPitinoMN) September 19, 2018

How many athletes with multiple Big Ten scholarship offers in basketball can throw for 374 yards and three touchdowns and get a pick-six playing defense in the same game?

There aren’t many two-sport athletes capable of doing what Breck’s David Roddy can on the field and the court.

Alex Conover Northstar Hoops

While Roddy’s leading his high school team on the gridiron as a quarterback and defensive end this fall, he is also trying to figure out what the top programs on his list in basketball have to offer.

Over the weekend, the 6-foot-5, 255-pound senior forward had an official visit with the Gophers men’s basketball program. Roddy’s currently considering Northwestern, Colorado State and Minnesota in hoops.

The recent Gopher visit included watching practice, talking to coaches, touring the new Athletes Village facility, attending the U football team’s victory over Miami (Ohio) and hanging out with his buddies Jarvis Omersa, Daniel Oturu and Gabe Kalscheur. They were former Howard Pulley AAU teammates.

“It was a lot of fun,” Roddy said. “We’re really close just from the AAU circuit. It’s just really cool to see those guys grow up and be in the place they’re in now, representing Minnesota in the most positive way they can. I’m excited for them and what they’ll do this season. It was a really fun spending time with them and getting to know their everyday life and what it is to be a Gopher.”

Watching those incoming freshmen gave Roddy a glimpse of what his experience would be like if he stayed home to play for the Gophers. He also heard from Richard Pitino and the coaching staff about why they wanted him and what his role could be on the team next year.

“The main thing was my versatility and my passing skills,” Roddy said. “It would really help in their offense. I’m a pretty unique player and very blessed. I can play multiple positions and hold my own. Being a facilitator and helping the team and doing all the things these days basketball players don’t like to do. Dive on the floor for loose balls, just the dirty work. I would play an important role on any team I would go to.”

Last week, the Gophers picked up a commitment from four-star Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.) power forward Tray Jackson, but the U continued to pursue Roddy.  Pitino, who has four scholarships available for the 2019 recruiting class, still made an in-home visit with Roddy last week and kept the scheduled official visit.

“That didn’t make much of a difference at all,” Roddy said about Jackson committing. “Congrats to him and the coaching staff. They got a good player from Detroit. I wish him nothing but the best. It’s a good situation for him. He’s a really athletic scorer. I played against him during the AAU season. He’s a good athlete, so Minnesota got a good one with him. I wouldn’t factor into any of my decision making. It’s just a good pickup for the Gophers.”

As for his next official visit, Roddy doesn’t plan to move up his trip to Northwestern on Oct. 13. He’s looking forward to getting another look at Chris Collins’ program and attending the Wildcats homecoming football game against Nebraska.

Gophers fans might be wondering if Roddy’s decision could come immediately after his Northwestern visit in mid-October. That’s his last scheduled official visit having already been to Colorado State and Minnesota, but Roddy is leaning toward waiting until after the football season to announce his plans.

Breck's football team is 3-0 and plays host to undefeated Minneapolis North at 7 p.m. Friday.

“I’ll finish my visits and factor in everything,” Roddy said. “But it’s not going to be exactly right after Northwestern. I want to play out my football season before I make a decision to have as much fun as I can and enjoy it. Then look at my options with what sport and what school is the best option for me.”