UM’s Hatch to be honored on senior day Sunday

Austin Hatch will be among the four players honored for Michigan’s “Senior Day” at Sunday’s home finale against No. 8 Ohio State.

Hatch, who survived two deadly plane crashes, will be joined by Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Duncan Robinson and Jaaron Simmons in a pregame ceremony that will celebrate their careers.

Hatch committed to Michigan in June 2011 and was a member of coach John Beilein’s 2014 recruiting class that also included Kam Chatman, Ricky Boyle, Aubrey Dawkins, D.J. Wilson and Abdur-Rahkman.

However, nine days after accepting a full-ride scholarship from Beilein, Hatch was severely injured in a plane crash in Charlevoix that killed his father and stepmother. Hatch was left in a coma for eight weeks with a traumatic brain injury and had to relearn how to talk and walk.

While his playing career was derailed, Beilein never wavered on the scholarship. After years of rehab, Hatch made it back onto the court in the final minutes of a Dec. 22, 2014 win over Coppin State and went 1-for-3 from the free-throw line after being fouled on a 3-pointer to record his first and only career point.

Hatch appeared in the waning minutes of five games his freshman season and received the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Most Courageous Award. Hatch took a medical scholarship and became an undergraduate student assistant his sophomore year.

He also survived a plane crash in 2003 that killed his mother, sister and brother. Hatch’s father was the pilot in both accidents.

jhawkins@detroitnews.com

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