Austin Hatch will bring his inspirational story of survival and perseverance to the McCallie School on the afternoon of Feb. 3, 2017, as the featured speaker at the Mountain View Auto Group Luncheon for the second annual McCallie Dr Pepper TEN Classic basketball showcase.
Hatch survived two plane crashes before graduating from high school — one in 2003 that killed his mother and siblings and a 2011 crash that claimed the lives of his father and stepmother. The second crash left the high school basketball star in a coma with a serious head injury.
Though he’d committed to play basketball at the University of Michigan, Hatch had to relearn how to walk and play basketball as he recovered from his injuries. Wolverines coach John Beilein honored his scholarship offer to Hatch, and he was able to play in five games as a freshman at Michigan, scoring on a free throw against Coppin State in 2014. Hatch has since taken a medical redshirt to concentrate on his studies while remaining a part of the Michigan program as an undergraduate assistant.
Hatch’s story was featured on ESPN’s E:60 program, telling his story about overcoming devastating loss to achieve his dreams to a nationwide audience. Since leaving basketball, Hatch has been speaking around the country to share his story even more widely. His visit to McCallie promises to deliver a special and inspiring message for the athletes and luncheon attendees.
The Dr Pepper TEN Classic will be Feb. 3-4 and will feature some of the best high school basketball teams in the nation. Joining McCallie for the two-day event preseason No. 1 La Lumiere School from La Porte, Ind., Chattanooga’s Hamilton Heights and Christ School of Asheville, N.C.
Tickets for the Mountain View Auto Group Luncheon are $25 and can be purchased online at attend.com/2017DrPepperTENClassic along with tickets to both days basketball action.
McCallie Dr Pepper TEN Classic Schedule of Events
Friday, Feb. 3
11:30 a.m.: Mountain View Auto Group Luncheon with Austin Hatch (at Walker Forum in the bottom floor of the Sports and Activities Center)
2 p.m.: Lamp Post Group Dunk Contest
6 p.m.: Christ School vs. Hamilton Heights
8 p.m.: La Lumiere vs. McCallie
Saturday, Feb. 4
10 a.m. – noon: Free Youth Basketball Clinic
6 p.m.: Christ School vs. La Lumiere
7:30 p.m.: Platinum Financial Funding three-point shooting contest
8 p.m.: Hamilton Heights vs. McCallie