El Ellis

Marcus Hatten, a native of Baltimore, Md., capped a stellar career at Tallahassee when he was named a First-team NJCAA All-American in 2001, the first player in Eagle Basketball history to accomplish the feat.  

From the first time he put on a Tallahassee basketball jersey in Jacksonville, Fla., on November 5, 1999, Hatten left fans breathless and opposing coaches scratching their heads.  He recorded 28 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and eight steals in his Eagle debut, thus beginning one of the more remarkable all-around careers in Tallahassee history.  Averaging 16.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, Hatten earned Panhandle Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2000 while being named first-team All-PC.  En route, he shattered Tallahassee’s single-season record for steals (136). 

As a sophomore, he was even better.  Leading Tallahassee to a 24-0 start, the third-longest winning streak in school history, Hatten’s play was instrumental in helping the Eagles claim a third Panhandle Conference Championship.  He was the overwhelming choice for PC Player of the Year, averaging 24.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 steals per game.  He was also named FCSAA Player of the Year and was a first-team All-FCSAA selection.  In the process, he became the sixth member of Tallahassee’s exclusive 1,000 Point Club and finished his career number two on the Eagles’ all-time scoring list.  

Hatten signed with St. John’s University, leading the Red Storm into the 2002 NCAA Tournament. In 2003, as a first-team All-Big East selection, he led St. John’s to the Postseason NIT Championship and was named the Tournament MVP.

Following college, Hatten played overseasons until retiring in 2018.