HEADING TO THE HALL: Chris Hatchell heads to the hoop for Winberie’s in 2013 action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Hatchell, who earned two regular season MVP awards and was named the playoff MVP four times over the years, was inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame last Wednesday. Getting inducted along with Hatchell in this year’s HOF class was the Ivy Inn team, which won three straight league titles from 2008-10 and six overall, and Town Topics sports editor Bill Alden, who has been covering the league since 2003. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

During his heyday in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, a flurry of three-pointers from Chris Hatchell would often prompt the admonition “don’t let him heat up” from the scorer’s table at the Community Park courts.

Hatchell became a league legend as his hot shooting from the perimeter in crunch time helped him earn two regular season MVP awards (2011, 2014) and get named the playoff MVP four times (2003, 2004, 2012, and 2014).

Last Wednesday as part of the league’s celebration of its 30th year of play, Hatchell was inducted into its Hall of Fame. Getting inducted along with Hatchell in this year’s HOF class was the Ivy Inn team, which won three straight league titles from 2008-10 and six crowns overall, and this reporter, who has been covering the league for the Town Topics since 2003.

Hatchell initially entered the league on The Cafe squad in 2002 as a way to keep playing with former Mercer County Community College teammates, Shahid Abdul-Karim, Asmar Fortney, and Marshawn Ferguson. It didn’t take long for Hatchell, who also played college ball at The College of New Jersey, to relish the scene at the Community Parks courts.

“At that time, I was playing in Cadwalader Park in the summer time, that was the premier league,” said Hatchell, who also played for The Cafe from 2002-05 and then for Winberie’s from 2011-15 .

“Then I came out here and they also had high level competition. There were a lot of good D-1 players and a couple of overseas players.”

For Hatchell, testing his skills against such foes motivated him to raise his game.

“It was playing with those guys I went to school with and seeing how they competed against those other guys like the players from Princeton,” said Hatchell.

“I remember Noah Savage from Princeton and a couple of those other guys who played out here over the years. It was the high level competition.”

In reflecting on his propensity for hitting big shots in the clutch, Hatchell attributed that to a burning desire to win.

“I am just competitive myself,” said a grinning Hatchell, 44, a resident of Trenton who works in plumbing and pipefitting, and has stayed in the game through coaching youth basketball and serving as a referee. “I don’t like to lose.”

Getting into the league’s Hall of Fame is a just reward for Hatchell’s success as a competitor over the years.

“It was a great run, this league was good then and it is still good,” said Hatchell. 

“My multiple MVPs and things like that are OK, but I have never been in a Hall of Fame for anything. It means a lot to be in the Hall of Fame, period. A lot of people don’t get to that point.”