HIGH SCHOOLS

Lavert Hill sings 'The Victors,' picks Michigan

David Goricki
The Detroit News
Lavert Hill announces he is going to Michigan.

Detroit — In the final analysis, Detroit King star cornerback Lavert Hill decided to go Blue.

Hill, a 6-foot, 180-pounder with 4.4 speed, picked Michigan over Michigan State and Penn State on Wednesday during a National Signing Day ceremony for PSL players at the Horatio Williams Foundation.

"It was stressful; I was thinking about it all night,” Hill said. “I decided this morning, woke up at 5:30 and just started singing the Michigan fight song ("The Victors"). I told my brother (Michigan player Delano Hill) about what I was doing."

Hill, a four-star prospect, had the ability to change the momentum of a game on both sides of the ball for the Division 2 state champion Crusaders. He got in on 40 tackles and intercepted 12 passes, including three pick-sixes.

Hill also made several big catches as a receiver, including an 85-yard TD in a 27-25 win over Detroit Cass Tech in the PSL title game at Ford Field and a pair of TD receptions in the 40-38 comeback win over Lowell in the state title game at the same site. Hill finished the season with 33 receptions for 786 yards and nine touchdowns.

Hill told defensive coordinator Don Brown and the secondary coaches of his decision Wednesday and was getting ready to call Jim Harbaugh after the announcement ceremony.

Hill was asked what Harbaugh told him during the recruiting process.

"He told me I'm a playmaker. He likes my ability to make plays on balls in the air," Hill said.

Hill plans to contribute right away and said he could play on offense as well as cornerback.

Delano Hill said he was confident Lavert would play with him next year at Michigan.

"I knew a couple weeks ago where he was going," Delano said. "I knew all along. He had to tell the world sometime. I was never really recruiting him. I really told him to take all five of his official visits and have fun wherever he wanted to go. I told him it was too early (with his earlier commitment to Penn State). I told he should have committed a little later so he could experience that recruiting trail.

"This will be the first time we'll be teammates. It feels good."

So Hill won't play college football with his good friend and Detroit King teammate Donnie Corley, The Detroit News' No. 1 Blue Chip recruit. Corley picked Michigan State and enrolled early in East Lansing.

Former Michigan quarterback and New England Patriots star Tom Brady called Hill’s father earlier this week to make a recruiting pitch for the Wolverines. Former MSU All-American cornerback Darqueze Dennard, a first-round draft pick of the Bengals in 2014, called him Tuesday to try to get him to join the Spartans.

Penn State head coach James Franklin not only called Hill on Tuesday, but also people close to Hill to try to convince him to come to Happy Valley. Hill had originally committed to the Nittany Lions before changing his mind after the season.

Delano is a starting safety for the Wolverines, who made a dramatic turnaround in Harbaugh’s first year as head coach, going from 5-7 in 2014 to 10-3 and a bowl win this past fall.

“I talked to him (Delano) and he just told me to do what’s best for me because this decision might change your entire life,” said Hill, who transferred to King from Detroit Cass Tech prior to his senior season. “I talk to him about anything and everything. He told me Michigan’s a great place with Coach Harbaugh, Coach (secondary coach Greg) Jackson, Coach (secondary coach Michael) Zordich, and the defensive coordinator (Don Brown) is bringing the same style as (former defensive coordinator and new Maryland head coach D.J.) Durkin, so they’re going to be a good team.”