DARIEN – In the end, Josh King's decision wasn't too difficult.

The Hinsdale South football defensive end, who will be a senior in the fall, was pursued by dozens of high-profile NCAA Division I programs, whittled his list to a top-5 of Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State and USC, and on June 5 gave a verbal commitment to Michigan State's football program.

A close relationship with MSU defensive line coach Ron Burton, head coach Mark Dantonio and Matt Allen of Hinsdale Central, a fellow Spartan in the class of 2016, helped seal the deal.

"It's a family, it really is, with the recruits they got here and Central with Matt Allen," King said. "Going to school with people you already know and feel comfortable around them and then playing with them, it only builds a stronger bond, which is only a positive."

College coaches flocked to Hinsdale South games last season to watch King in person, recruiting letters flooded in, and recruiting websites and college coaches wanted to know where he would wind up. King said he just tried to minimize the external noise and concentrate on making the right choice.

"You just kind of let it go over you. You just focus on things that are important, and that's how I came to this decision," King said. "I felt in my heart that there was no better place than Michigan State."

King is the highest-profile recruit Hinsdale South has had since 2006 graduate Matt Mayberry went on to play at Indiana. The notoriety King has brought to the program has had a ripple effect on the entire program. Head coach Mike Barry would often invite college coaches to team weight lifting sessions, where the intensity increased.

"It's a motivating factor for a lot of our kids who might not be Division I-type kids, but they see it and they work harder, so it's a positive effect all the way through the program," Barry said.

"The whole atmosphere in the weight room jumps up a level when the coaches come," South quarterback Sean McCormack said. "Everyone tries to impress the coaches as much as they can."

King and Allen aren't the only Chicago-area players destined for East Lansing. Palatine defensive back Kenny Lyke is MSU-bound in the Class of 2016, and DePaul Prep defensive lineman Raequan Williams is a class of 2015 MSU recruit.

Michigan State has been on King's short list for some time – Barry said he's known for several months it was one of his favorites – but that didn't put an end to contact from coaches at other schools. South assistant football coach Jarrod Amolsch was the point person who handled much of the contact from colleges, including a flood in recent weeks, and went on recruiting trips with King. It was lot of work, but in the end it was all worth it.

"This last month, it's been crazy but it's been fun, and he's worth it," Amolsch said. "Anytime you're doing what you love, I wouldn't call it work. So anytime you see a young man succeed, it's awesome to watch. It was more fun than anything else to see him realize his dream."