CSU Basketball's Carlton Hurst transferring to South Dakota

Carlton Hurst, who rarely saw the court under head coach Larry Eustachy, is transferring to the University of South Dakota per the Coloradoan.

Hurst, a 6’3” sophomore guard, was buried on the bench and saw a mere 9.1 minutes per game last season. While John Gillon started at the point, Daniel Bejarano was the team’s shooting guard, Hurst’s natural position. And the somewhat unexpected production out of Gian Clavell, the junior out of Puerto Rico, to the team’s sixth man meant less time for Hurst as well.

Hurst, who hailed from nearby Denver suburb Aurora, averaged 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore in those limited minutes. His leaping ability has always impressed and the 21-year old worked to develop his outside jumper during his stay in Fort Collins, too.

He’ll now take those skills to South Dakota, who plays in the Summit League with fellow Centennial State school the Denver Pioneers. Ironically, Denver was a place Hurst was rumored to land as it wasn’t a surprise he was looking for a transfer following two underwhelming years in terms of minutes played.

South Dakota is coached by Craig Smith, a former Colorado State assistant under Tim Miles. Miles led the Rams to the NCAA Tournament in 2011-12 before jetting to Nebraska to coach the Cornhuskers, where he’s led them to a 47-49 overall record and an NCAA appearance as well.

In Smith’s first season as the Coyotes’ head man, South Dakota finished 17-16. Smith originally recruited hurst and the two are now reunited. Hurst must sit a season due to transferring but will have two years of eligibility remaining starting in 2016.