Hatch to play two more years at Canterbury

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Austin Hatch has made plans for his future that include playing basketball at Canterbury for two more years followed by a college career at the University of Michigan.

Hatch was the sole survivor in a plane crash June 24, 2011 that killed his father and stepmother. Injuries forced doctors to put him in a medically induced coma and Hatch continues to make a remarkable recovery from the effects of the crash.

Hatch informed WANE-TV that the IHSAA has granted him another year of eligibility per a letter written by Canterbury athletic director Ken Harkenrider to IHSAA commissioner Bobby Cox. Hatch was originally scheduled to play his senior season of basketball this fall after missing all of last season recovering. However, the IHSAA's ruling allows Hatch eligibility for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. In Austin's words, it allows him to count 2011-12 as a "redshirt year." It is an unprecedented ruling in terms of the IHSAA.

Instead of signing with Michigan this November Hatch now has an extra year and will sign with U of M in November of 2013. Hatch says Michigan coach John Beilein and the program has said they will honor his scholarship any year and continue to support Austin.

Prior to the accident Hatch was scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2013. The ruling helps him taking a more methodical approach to his life in high school, as he now plans to graduate in 2014.

This sets Hatch up for success both athletically and academically at Michigan. Hatch plans to attended medical school and become at doctor like his late father.

Hatch was a dominant player as a sophomore, scoring 23.3 points a game while hauling in 9.3 rebounds a night. He picked Michigan over Notre Dame and Virginia.