LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Austin Hatch finished high school less than two miles from Staples Center, playing basketball at Loyola High and golfing throughout the warm California winter four years ago.
But he mostly spent his one year in Los Angeles simply learning how to live again after surviving the second tragic plane crash of his young life, a crash that killed his father and stepmother.
When Michigan's run to the Sweet Sixteen brought Hatch back to downtown LA this week, he was grateful for the chance to see his uncle, his extended family and his Loyola coach, Jamal Adams. They all plan to be in the stands Thursday when Michigan faces Texas A&M, with Hatch helping the Wolverines from his spot on the bench.
"It was only a year of my life, but it was a big year of my life," Hatch said Wednesday before going through a workout with his teammates. "It was the year that prepared me for Michigan. Great people out here. I was very, very blessed to be a part of it."
Hatch scored one point in his Michigan playing career, which ended in 2015. He is a student assistant coach now, watching the Wolverines in a suit and tie -- except on Senior Day last month, when he suited up and received a stirring ovation at Crisler Center.
With the Wolverines needing only two wins in LA to reach the Final Four, Hatch is grateful to play any small role in their success.
"Obviously what I contribute to the team doesn't show up in the stat sheet," Hatch said. "But the fact that I've been able to add something has given me a sense of fulfillment, if you will. I couldn't control what happened to me, but I knew I could control how I responded to it. And I think that given the circumstances, I've done my best to make the most of it. I know all my teammates appreciate that."
Hatch's impact has been immeasurable on the Michigan program and coach John Beilein, who lived up to his scholarship commitment to the promising prospect from Fort Wayne, Indiana, after the June 2011 crash that left him in a coma for weeks. Hatch had already survived a 2003 crash in which his mother, brother and sister died.
Given the traumatic circumstances in which he arrived on the West Coast, his return is a reminder of his resilience. Hatch healed during his year in Los Angeles -- and he relished the chance to hit the links in January while Michigan was buried under snow.
"In hindsight, I'm really glad I was here," Hatch said. "It broadened my horizons a little bit. I'm from the Midwest. I'm from Fort Wayne, a small town. Now I'm in Ann Arbor, which is relatively small in comparison to LA. It was good to come out here and experience a different way of life."
While his time with the Wolverines will end soon, Hatch isn't slowing down. He is getting married to former Michigan volleyball player Abby Cole in the summer, and he'll explore a career in business while deciding what he wants to do next.
But first, he's hoping for two more weeks of hoops ending in a national title.
"My chapter at Michigan has been incredible," Hatch said. "I wouldn't change anything about it. I have no regrets. There's nothing I wish I would have done. Everyone here has invested so much in me, and I've really done my best to show my appreciation by working hard."
