Three former ND boys basketball standouts Grant Nelson, Joe Hurlburt & Gus Hurlburt set to participate in NCAA Div. I Men's Basketball Tournament

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

DEVILS LAKE – Three former North Dakota high school boys basketball players are preparing to participate in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Tournament this week.

Grant Nelson – a 2020 Devils Lake High School graduate – and the No. 4-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide play No. 13 seed Charleston in the first round of the West Regional at 6:35 p.m. CDT Friday, March 22 at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington. The Alabama-Charleston game is being televised on Tru TV. 

Joe Hurlburt – a 2022 Enderlin High School graduate – and the No. 10-seeded Colorado Buffaloes defeated Boise State in a "First Four" round game on Thursday in Dayton, Ohio and now advance to play No. 7 seeded Florida in the first round of the South Regional at 3:30 p.m. CDT Friday, March 22 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Colorado-Florida game is being televised on TBS.

Gus Hurlburt – a 2022 Enderlin High School graduate – and the No. 9-seeded Northwestern Wildcats play No. 8-seeded Florida Atlantic University in the first round of the East Regional at 11:15 a.m. CDT Friday, March 22 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Northwestern-FAU game is being televised on CBS.   

Nelson transferred to Alabama last summer after playing three seasons at North Dakota State University. Nelson started in all 32 games for the Crimson Tide this season and is averaging 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Joe Hurlburt played in 10 games for Colorado this season as a redshirt freshman.

Gus Hurlburt played in five games for Northwestern this season as a redshirt freshman.

Nelson was a two-time North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters & Sportswriters Association (NDAPSSA) Class A Boys Basketball All-State Team selection – First Team as a senior and Second Team as a junior. Nelson also won NDAPSSA Mr. Basketball honors in 2020.

Joe Hurlburt was a three-time NDAPSSA Class B Boys Basketball All-State Team selection – First Team as a senior and junior and Second Team as a sophomore. Joe Hurlburt was a NDAPSSA Mr. Basketball finalist in 2022 and won North Dakota Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of Year honors in 2022 and 2021.

Gus Hurlburt was a NDAPSSA Class B Boys Basketball All-State Second Team selection his senior season.   

Nelson finished his prep boys basketball career with 1,058 points.  

Joe Hurlburt finished his prep boys basketball career with 2,188 points and is the state’s all-time rebounding leader with 1,475 career rebounds.

Gus Hurlburt finished his prep boys basketball career with 1,291 points.

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