Star University Of Michigan Recruit Critically Injured In Plane Crash

“Good player, good student, good person. That’s just the way it is. He’s a great kid, said Dan Kline, Austin Hatch’s basketball coach at Canterbury High School.

The 6-foot-6 guard/forward was critically injured Friday in a plane crash in Michigan. His father and stepmother, Dr. Stephen and Kim Hatch, were also aboard and were killed.

Kline expects his player to make it through. He’s a fighter, Kline said. He’ll find a way now. He’s strong.”

Dr. David Bojrab, Stephen Hatch’s medical partner, said Saturday evening that Austin, 16, is in a medically induced coma, suffering bruising on his brain and minor fractures to his ribs and collarbone.

Bojrab said Austin could make a complete recovery, but the question of how the bruising on his brain will affect him has not been answered.

Austin and his father survived a 2003 plane crash that killed Austin’s mother, Julie, and a sister and brother.

“For that to happen one time is so unusual, so unlikely. But to happen twice, to have such tragic consequences, it’s almost more than you can believe, said Canterbury girls basketball coach Scott Kreiger.

Kreiger said his sons look up to Austin and watch his highlight videos on YouTube. He said it was tough breaking the news to them Saturday.

Austin averaged 23.1 points and 9.3 rebounds last season for the Cavaliers, who won the school’s first sectional championship. This month, he accepted a scholarship offer to play basketball at the University of Michigan.

Austin told The Journal Gazette for a story last week that he had committed to Michigan on the first day that NCAA coaches could call recruits for the 2013 class.

It was a very special moment for me, Austin told the newspaper. There was no reason to wait. … I couldn’t turn it down.”

“Austin needs as much support right now as possible, and I know he will be in the thoughts and prayers of the Michigan family during this difficult time, Michigan men’s basketball coach John Beilein said in an email.

Kline said some of Austin’s teammates have gone to visit him at the Traverse City, Mich., hospital where he’s being treated. He said Austin’s relatives were with him, too.

With the exception of the three children of his stepmother, Austin is without an immediate family.

It’s just Austin right now, Austin hanging on, Kreiger said.

, Star University Of Michigan Recruit Critically Injured In Plane Crash

The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Archie Ingersoll

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110626/LOCAL07/306269897/1043/LOCAL07

Good player, good student, good person. That’s just the way it is. He’s a great kid, said Dan Kline, Austin Hatch’s basketball coach at Canterbury High School.

The 6-foot-6 guard/forward was critically injured Friday in a plane crash in Michigan. His father and stepmother, Dr. Stephen and Kim Hatch, were also aboard and were killed.

Kline expects his player to make it through. He’s a fighter, Kline said. He’ll find a way now. He’s strong.”

Dr. David Bojrab, Stephen Hatch’s medical partner, said Saturday evening that Austin, 16, is in a medically induced coma, suffering bruising on his brain and minor fractures to his ribs and collarbone.

Bojrab said Austin could make a complete recovery, but the question of how the bruising on his brain will affect him has not been answered.

Austin and his father survived a 2003 plane crash that killed Austin’s mother, Julie, and a sister and brother.

“For that to happen one time is so unusual, so unlikely. But to happen twice, to have such tragic consequences, it’s almost more than you can believe, said Canterbury girls basketball coach Scott Kreiger.

Kreiger said his sons look up to Austin and watch his highlight videos on YouTube. He said it was tough breaking the news to them Saturday.

Austin averaged 23.1 points and 9.3 rebounds last season for the Cavaliers, who won the school’s first sectional championship. This month, he accepted a scholarship offer to play basketball at the University of Michigan.

Austin told The Journal Gazette for a story last week that he had committed to Michigan on the first day that NCAA coaches could call recruits for the 2013 class.

It was a very special moment for me, Austin told the newspaper. There was no reason to wait. … I couldn’t turn it down.”

“Austin needs as much support right now as possible, and I know he will be in the thoughts and prayers of the Michigan family during this difficult time, Michigan men’s basketball coach John Beilein said in an email.

Kline said some of Austin’s teammates have gone to visit him at the Traverse City, Mich., hospital where he’s being treated. He said Austin’s relatives were with him, too.

With the exception of the three children of his stepmother, Austin is without an immediate family.

It’s just Austin right now, Austin hanging on, ” Kreiger said.