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Evan King can check off "learn school fight song" from his Things To Do Before Heading To College list.

His father taught him the University of Michigan's famous fight song "Hail to the Victors" back when King was many years away from being a much-pursued blue chip recruit. But Van King didn't push his alma mater when it came time to choose, and both father and son say his decision last week to join the Wolverines was independent of that connection.

"Ultimately, that had nothing to do with it," says the 16-year-old from Chicago, denying that two aunts who are also U of M alumni and the proximity of his grandparents in nearby Battle Creek, had any influence on his decision. "Honestly, I didn't want to think about that at all. I wanted to do it purely on what I thought would feel right, and would be the best school for me."

Van King said he learned long ago that his son was more comfortable with a decision when he had information and input, and he credits Michigan head coach Bruce Berque for taking that approach with Evan.

"When Bruce mapped out a plan for him, showed him how he could progress in this next stage, Evan could buy into that," says his father. "He felt the plan and his hard work would make it a good fit."