However, he failed to reach an economical agreement with the Warriors and went on to play professionally in Europe in the top divisions of Turkey, Italy and Spain.

[4] Butler ended the season with a 33–3 record and competed in the Class 4A state tournament, finishing at second place after losing 60–58 to Hayes in the final game.

[6] He won the tournament MVP award for the second time in his career,[2] and again was named in the All-Tournament team.

[7] Hurt was selected in the Parade All-America Second Team and earned a spot in the McDonald's All-American team: in the 1981 McDonald's All-American Boys Game he played 17 minutes and he recorded 12 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals;[8] he also scored 19 points, shooting 9/11 from the field and 1/4 from the free throw line.

[4] At Alabama he chose to wear jersey number 34[12] and during his freshman year he was one of the first options off the bench[13] for coach Wimp Sanderson, who had been hired the previous season.

During his first year of college basketball he led the Crimson Tide for field goal percentage[14] and blocks with a total of 45.

The Crimson Tide reached the Sweet Sixteen during the 1982 NCAA tournament, losing to North Carolina.

[16] Alabama was the number 9 seed in the Midwest, and lost in the round of 48 to Illinois State during the 1984 NCAA tournament.

Hurt's senior year saw him start all 33 games, and he averaged 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds: he was second in both categories to junior Buck Johnson.

[23] Source[24] After the end of his senior year of college Hurt was automatically eligible for the 1985 NBA draft.

[5] He signed for Tofaş S.K., a team based in Bursa, and spent two seasons in the Turkish Basketball League.