James Hatton was voted Duke Automotive-Suffolk News-Herald Player of the Week after helping King’s Fork High School’s boys’ basketball team to two conference victories against Churchland and Deep Creek, in which he scored 16 and 17 points, respectively, for his team.

James Hatton is a junior guard for the team, which currently has an 11-5 record with a 5-1 Conference 17 record. Hatton is a big part of the successful overall and conference records the Bulldogs have.

“I am thankful for everyone who voted for me,” Hatton said of his Player of the Week honor. “I really appreciate it.”

Last week, the Bulldogs had two conference games against Churchland and Deep Creek. Though both games were close, they fought their way through both games to win. King’s Fork defeated Churchland Jan. 12 behind Hatton’s team-leading 16 points. The following day, the Bulldogs took on Deep Creek, and Hatton led his team to victory once again with 17 points, seven rebound, seven assists and four steals.

Despite a solid season thus far for the Bulldogs, Hatton believes he and his team continue to fly under the radar. He prides himself on hard work and is motivated by being “slept” on amongst outsiders.

“I feel that I’m slept on,” Hatton said. “It motivates me to get better every day.”

Hatton plays with a lot of energy. A pass-first guard that loves to shoot the ball and spread the floor for his team. Whether it is a catch-and-shoot situation or coming off the dribble, the junior is confident shooting in any scenario. Whatever his team asks of him, he will do. One night he may be the leading scorer; the next night he could be the primary defender. Hatton is willing to do it all to help his team.

This 2016-2017 season started off a little rocky for the junior Bulldog, he admitted. The first couple of games, Hatton wasn’t shooting as well as he’d like. Eventually, he shook off his slump to become a double-figure scorer for the rest of the season thus far.

“My coaches and teammates pushed me,” He said. “They pushed me to get my shot back, and since then I have been on a roll.”

Hitting a three-pointer to take the lead over an opponent or spark a run for his team is a great feeling. However, for Hatton, nothing is more satisfying than what is done off of the court, which is being a student athlete. School comes first for the junior; he knows it’s an important component to the goals he wants to achieve.

“School comes before basketball,” Hatton said. “The first question a college is going to ask is, ‘How are his grades?’”

Hatton is inspired by his family. He wants to do well for them to make them proud, especially his grandmother, who was never really able to see him play before she died.

Hatton admires Oklahoma City All-Star guard Russell Westbrook and tries to model his game after him.

“His motor never stops,” Hatton said. “If he wants something really bad, he is going to get it.”

Off the court, if he is not in the classroom, Hatton can be found playing video games.

He and the Bulldogs will be in action against Wilson on the road in a Conference 17 game Jan. 27 at 7:15 p.m.