Dylan Ledahl is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Trevor G. Browne High School for AZPreps365.com

Six weeks ago, when Trevor G. Browne lost to Casteel 51-0, it was a long night for the Bruins defense.

Throughout the night, Raevonta Hill told his defense to remember this feeling, because he didn’t want any of them to feel that way again.

That is the type of leader Hill is on the field. But he’s also the same way off the field when it comes to school.

Hill has been a starter on the defensive line for the varsity team since his freshman year. He was named one of the four team captains his junior year. He also has been on the varsity basketball team, where he’s also a captain.

Football is his favorite sport to play, though. He said he is interested in playing football at the next level.

“I haven’t gotten any major offers yet, but I am interested in playing football after my senior year,” Hill said. “Football is my life.”

Born in Cincinnati in 2007, Hill got involved with sports at a young age. His family moved to the Metro Phoenix area in 2017, as Hill was about to enter middle school.

Whenever Hill isn’t at football practice, playing in football games, or at school, he is at the gym working out or doing yoga. He also does homework and studies, because being a successful student is just as important to him as being a successful athlete, he said.

“In order to be a successful athlete, it starts with hitting the books and doing well in class,” Hill said. “If you don’t have good grades, then you won’t be able to dress up and play the sport you love. I’ve made doing well in school a priority. I currently have a 3.96 GPA.”

Trevor G. Browne head coach Francisco Rangel praised Hill’s academic accomplishments.

“One of my favorite things about Rae is that he has beyond accomplished his academic goals and being accepted into a prestigious mathematics academy this past summer at ASU proves that,” Rangel said.

The moment Hill stepped onto Browne’s campus, Hill has made a positive impact on the football coaches and with his teammates. He is known to dedicate time to harp on the little things and practice the little things until he can be as great as he possibly can be. Even if it means staying after practice and being the last player to leave the field.

“He’s worked for and earned all the good things he’s accomplished,” Rangel said.

Both Rangel and defensive line coach James Bagley said their favorite memory of Hill took place during Hill’s freshman year.

“I think of his first varsity start against Central, his freshman year, when we were down to only four defensive linemen,” Rangel said.

For Bagley, it was when Hill got his first sack.

“Reason being is just because he got his first start, and he had one hell of a game,” Bagley said.  

Hill’s mentality and goals he sets for himself can relate to life both on and off the field or court.

“I entered this [football] season with one goal: winning,” Hill said. “I approach every day, whether it’s a gameday on Friday or a day on the weekend where I have nothing going on, with the same mindset. And that is that nothing is easy in life. You just take it day-by-day to get a deeper understanding of what life is.”