USC football landed a massive Father’s Day commitment on Sunday from four-star 2026 Kahuku (Hawaii) linebacker Talanoa Ili, who picked the Trojans over rival UCLA. 

Ili, who played at Orange Lutheran High School in California before transferring to Hawaii for his senior season, recorded 78 tackles with eight tackles for a loss with two forced fumbles and a pass breakup as a junior. You can watch highlights from that season above. 

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Ili is rated the No. 54 overall prospect, the No. 3 linebacker and the No. 1 recruit in Hawaii via the 247Sports rankings. He is the No. 79 overall prospect and the No. 4 linebacker in the 247Sports Composite.

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USC’s 2026 recruiting class is No. 1 in the country with 29 commitments, including two other linebackers: three-star San Bernadino (Calif.) Cajon prospect Taylor Johnson and four-star Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei prospect Shaun Scott. Linebacker is a massive position of need for the Trojans this cycle. 

247Sports Evaluation: 

Ili recently made the move from Southern California to Hawaii and will play his senior year at Island powerhouse Kahuku. Was a three-year starter at Orange Lutheran, one of the state’s top programs and was arguably the best all-around linebacker in the state, regardless of class, as a junior. Offers a ton of positional versatility and is capable of playing all three ‘backer positions and in any type of defensive scheme. Physical enough and has the frame to play inside, athletic enough to cover and play in space and offers pass rush ability as well. A big hitter who loves contact, decisive making reads and can get downhill in a hurry. Fluid in coverage and looks comfortable checking tight ends and even running backs out of the backfield. Plays with suddenness and can explode through gaps and is always in attack mode. Still pretty lean but has the frame to easily add good weight and should play close to 240 pounds or so at the next level. With his all around skill set to go along with his toughness and compete level, Ili has a great chance to be a multi-year starter in college as well and an early impact player.

Virginia high school athletics ranks as one of the greatest heritages in the U.S., producing Hall-of-Fame talents like Moses Malone, Ralph Sampson, Kim Graham-Miller, Bruce Smith, Mia Hamm, and Lawrence Taylor.

Other elite talents like Michael Vick, Justin Verlander, Kam Chancellor, Tisha Waller, and Fran Tarkenton roamed the high school halls of the Old Dominion State.

And while those athletes of yesteryear made their impact, today’s athletes are also keeping Virginia’s high school scene on the map, with the high school setting the scene for the next generation of legends.

Which Virginia high schools are currently the best for athletes?

According to one study, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for “reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school”—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.

25. Lake Braddock Secondary School (Burke)Total number of sports: 2324. Benedictine College Preparatory (Richmond)Total number of sports: 1323. South County High School (Lorton)Total number of sports: 2222. Oscar F. Smith High School (Chesapeake)Total number of sports: 2421. Douglas S. Freeman High School (Richmond)Total number of sports: 2620. Walsingham Academy (Williamsburg)Total number of sports: 1619. Louisa County High SchoolTotal number of sports: 2418. St. Christopher’s School (Richmond)Total number of sports: 1517. St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School (Alexandria)Total number of sports: 2416. Auburn High School (Riner)Total number of sports: 2015. James Madison High School (Vienna)Total number of sports: 2414. Highland School (Warrenton)Total number of sports: 2013. Bishop O’Connell High School (Arlington)Total number of sports: 2812. Lafayette High School (Williamsburg)Total number of sports: 2311. Salem High SchoolTotal number of sports: 3610. Blue Ridge School (St. George)Total number of sports: 159. Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg)Total number of sports: 108. E.C. Glass High School (Lynchburg)Total number of sports: 257. Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach)Total number of sports: 236. Norfolk AcademyTotal number of sports: 225. Stone Bridge High School (Ashburn)Total number of sports: 254. St. Catherine’s School (Richmond)Total number of sports: 143. St. Paul VI Catholic High School (Chantilly)Total number of sports: 252. Western Albemarle High School (Crozet)Total number of sports: 231. Woodberry Forest SchoolTotal number of sports: 18Data via Niche survey statistics

Kamaru Usman took advantage of his UFC Fight Night main event with Joaquin Buckley to prove he is still one of the elite welterweights in the world. Usman took a unanimous decision win over Buckley on the strength of his wrestling base in the upset.

From the early rounds, Usman patiently worked to avoid Buckley’s dangerous strikes and pick his moments to drive in for takedowns. Once the fight hit the ground, it was clear Buckley had no defense to what Usman brought to the table.

Usman was able to score the takedown in the first four rounds. Every time the fight hit the ground, Buckley was unable to work back to his feet. Usman worked ground and pound every round, opening cuts over Buckley’s right eye and in his mouth. The fight was never in danger of being finished, but Usman was able to grind out round after round on the strength of his wrestling base.

Buckley finally avoided the takedown in the fifth round, allowing him to get his striking going. But it was too little, too late for Buckley as the former welterweight champion had already build a massive lead on the official scorecards.

After the conclusion of the fifth and final round, Usman was awarded the victory by scores of  49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.

“It feels good. It’s been a while,” Usman said after picking up his first win since losing his welterweight title to Leon Edwards in August 2022. “I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level. You have to pull off the skills and use the experience. I feel good.” 

Usman now moves back into position to attempt to regain the welterweight championship, having lost to Edwards twice before a majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev in a fight Usman took on 10 days’ notice at middleweight.

“I expected him to be really, really tough, which he was,” Usman said of the fight. “I know what it takes to work and get in here. Thank you to him for bringing everything he brought. I know it’s a running joke for everyone to get on the internet and say, ‘his knees, his knees,’ well shut the f— up.” 

CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday, bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC Fight Night below.

UFC Fight Night card, odds

• Kamaru Usman def. Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
• Rose Namajunas def. Miranda Maverick via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Edmen Shahbazyan def. Andre Petroski via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Raoni Barcelos def. Cody Garbrandt via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Cody Brundage via third-round TKO (punches)
• Alonzo Menifield def. Oumar Sy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig ends in no contest after illegal strike
• Michael Chiesa def. Court McGee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Malcolm Wellmaker def. Kris Moutinho via first-round knockout (punch)
• Jose Ochoa def. Cody Durden via second-round knockout (punch)

Highlgiths include Justice Alexander (Concord Academy), Kyndoll English and Cooper Cox (Grace Christian of Sanford), Ginny Anne Dumont (Providence Day), and Lila Kelly (Forsyth Country Day).

Web Editor : J. Mike Blake

Posted 2025-06-15T07:08:29-0400 – Updated 2025-06-15T07:10:05-0400