The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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BASKETBALL RECRUITING Austin Hatch Won't Play This Year M BY CHRIS BALAS ichigan class of 2013 pledge Aus- tin Hatch of Fort Wayne (Ind.) Canterbury continues to improve following injuries suffered in a June plane crash that claimed the lives of his father and stepmother. His family told WANE-TV in Fort Wayne they are thrilled with his progress, but added in a release that Hatch wouldn't play basketball this year. "Austin continues to make great strides in his rehabilitation; this first year is vital to the recovery process," they said in a statement. "As a result, it is unlikely that Austin's physicians will clear him to play basketball this season." The June crash was the second small plane crash in which Hatch had been involved. He lost his biological mother and two siblings in another small plane crash eight years ago in which he and his father survived. Hatch spent three months at Munson Medi- cal Center in Traverse City, Mich., fol- lowing the June crash in Michigan's northern lower peninsula. Hatch was in attendance for Michi- gan's home football game with Ohio State alongside class of 2012 signee Mitch McGary (6-10, 250, Rivals.com's No. 3 player nationally) of Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy and fellow 2013 pledge Mark Donnal (6-9, 200, Rivals.com's No. 124 junior nationally) of Monclavia (Ohio) Wayne. Hatch has made great strides in his rehabili- tation from injuries suffered in a June plane crash, but needs more recovery time before resuming his hoops career. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM The Hatch family has continuously asked for privacy and that media not approach Hatch for interviews when he attends Canterbury High's games, which he has frequently. Hatch has also been seen in East Lansing, where he's watched friend Russell Byrd play for Michigan State. Hatch averaged 23.3 points and 9.3 rebounds last season at Canter- bury and committed to be part of Michigan's 2013 recruiting class this past summer, just weeks before his NOTES • Michigan continues to watch class of 2013 forward Dominic Woodson of Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vt. The 6-8, 265-pounder also played in the National Prep Showcase and stood out, Rivals.com's Eric Bossi reported. "During the summer, we didn't see a ton of Dominic Woodson, but we did see enough of him to know that the Round Rock, Texas, native was a high-major prospect," Bossi reported. "At the NPS, the 6-foot-8, 265-pound big man didn't just cement his status — he enhanced it." Woodson's physical strength stands out, Bossi added. "The junior is well put together and looks like he is already physically ready for the college game," he said. "Not surprisingly, that strength allows him to bully other prep school competition whenever he really needs to. What's most impres- sive, though, is that he doesn't have to rely on overpowering guys. "Woodson shoots the ball accurately to 20 feet, is a deft passer out of either the high or low post and plays intelligently with his back to the basket." Woodson is wide open and hearing from Texas, Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Connecticut and Oklahoma, among others. He is Rivals.com's No. 89 junior in the country. "He's on track to make a big move if he keeps playing at this level," Bossi said. 74 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2011 accident. He remains a 2013 pledge, though it seems likely he'll reclassify to 2014 if he plays basketball again. SIGNEE GLENN ROBINSON III OFF TO A GREAT START St. John (Ind.) Lake Central head coach Dave Milausnic said a deep tournament run might determine whether his star player, Michigan signee Glenn "Tre" Robinson III (6-6, Rivals.com's No. 34 senior nationally), wins Indiana's prestigious Mr. Basket- ball Award. Such is life when you play in one of the nation's most talent-rich states. Winning games, not awards, is Robinson's goal, and he and his Lake Central team figure to do their fair share this year. They're off to a 1-1 start behind Robinson's 55 points in two games, including a 30-point out- burst in a 79-64 loss to Fishers (Ind.) Hamilton Southeastern. The game also featured Hamilton Southeastern and U-M junior pledge Zak Irvin (6-6, Rivals.com's No. 54 junior nationally). MSU-bound shooting guard Gary Harris, who scored 25 points to lead Southeastern's win, was impressed with Robinson. "It was our first game of the year, and we were ready to get out there," Harris told the Indianapolis Star. "Glenn is a great player, and we've played against each other before. I guess I need to get used to playing against him." Irvin finished with 19 points and five rebounds for Southeastern. Head coach Brian Satterfield was pleased at the production. "We had a lot of guys who played well," Satterfield said. "It was just a great team effort — especially a great team defensive effort." Lake Central played without 6-7 starting center and U-M sophomore target Tyler Wideman, who was forced to sit after receiving two tech- nical fouls in Lake Central's 72-47 win over Gary West Side on Nov. 23. In that game, Lake Central's opener, Robinson threw down three dunks in the first 16 minutes on his way to 25 points. Some have said Robinson's turn- around jumper is just like his dad's,