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Junior highlights of USC linebacker commit Talanoa Ili

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 […]

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Junior highlights of USC linebacker commit Talanoa Ili

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.

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High School Sports

Warrior Women photo exhibit highlights strength, resilience of breast cancer survivors

Despite a terminal diagnosis, Danyel Rogers continues to empower herself and other breast cancer survivors through powerful portraits. Author: kgw.com Published: 1:30 PM PDT June 20, 2025 Updated: 1:30 PM PDT June 20, 2025 0

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Warrior Women photo exhibit highlights strength, resilience of breast cancer survivors

Despite a terminal diagnosis, Danyel Rogers continues to empower herself and other breast cancer survivors through powerful portraits.

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HIGHLIGHTS

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Indians won the first game of the second half of the Northwest League on a walk-off homerun from Jared Thomas. The Indians are 1-0 and tied for first place as the best record in the second half of the season makes the NWL Championship. More from this section 0

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HIGHLIGHTS

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Indians won the first game of the second half of the Northwest League on a walk-off homerun from Jared Thomas. The Indians are 1-0 and tied for first place as the best record in the second half of the season makes the NWL Championship.

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Derik Queen high school basketball highlights

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two KISD football players named to Dave Campbell's top 100 list, six others included as non

FROM STAFF REPORTS Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, long considered the bible of Texas high school football. Posted its 2026 high school player rankings in early June, with two Katy ISD athletes named in the top 100 players, and six others included on the list as nonranked. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football rankings are created using a […]

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two KISD football players named to Dave Campbell's top 100 list, six others included as non

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, long considered the bible of Texas high school football. Posted its 2026 high school player rankings in early June, with two Katy ISD athletes named in the top 100 players, and six others included on the list as nonranked.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football rankings are created using a combination of Texas high school football coach recommendations, in-person evaluations and film reviews.

The results are:

Ranking Player School Position Status

31 Kosi Okpala Mayde Creek Rams Outside linebacker Uncommitted

88 Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu Jordan Warriors Defensive tackle Verbal commit

NR Benny Okwura Jordan Warriors Tight end Uncommitted

NR Daryl Campbell Paetow Panthers Defensive tackle Uncommitted

NR Javion Garrett Taylor Mustangs Running Back Uncommitted

NR Isaiah Mcmillan Katy Tigers Safety Uncommitted

NR Zachary Taylor Jordan Warriors Cornerback Uncommitted

NR Tanner West Jordan Warriors Position not listed Uncommitted

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Cubs takeaways

BOX SCORE CHICAGO — The first-place Cubs opened a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners in a game that was the backdrop for a franchise icon’s return. Sammy Sosa made his way back to Wrigley Field on a Friday when the Cubs’ bullpen had a rare bad day in a 9-4 loss. Chicago (45-30) fell […]

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Cubs takeaways

BOX SCORE

CHICAGO — The first-place Cubs opened a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners in a game that was the backdrop for a franchise icon’s return.

Sammy Sosa made his way back to Wrigley Field on a Friday when the Cubs’ bullpen had a rare bad day in a 9-4 loss. Chicago (45-30) fell to 11-2 in home series openers with the defeat.

Here are three takeaways from the loss to Seattle (38-36):

Sammy’s home

The talk of Friday was the return of the former Cubs slugger, who made his first trip back to the Friendly Confines since 2004.

Sosa met with Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts upon his arrival, toured the clubhouse and met players, including star outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

“He’s doing fantastic,” Sosa said in a media availability during the game. “He’s swinging the ball very well.”

The slugger was honored during the daily “Legends of the Game” segment at Wrigley Field, and received a rousing ovation from the 40,787 fans in attendance. Sosa joined the radio and television broadcasts before speaking to local media.

Sosa was the talk of the day. Cubs manager Craig Counsell fielded pregame questions related to Sosa for about seven minutes, before briefly providing injury updates on Shota Imanaga and Porter Hodge (they’re pitching for Iowa on Friday), Miguel Amaya (he’s begun throwing and hitting in Arizona) and Javier Assad (he’s still throwing bullpens in Arizona).

[WATCH: Sammy Sosa joins Cubs Postgame Live!]

It’s rare that this strong Cubs team takes a back seat for anyone this season. Sosa made Friday an exception.

Bullpen’s rare off-outing

The Cubs’ bullpen had been so good for long that it felt due for an inevitable bad day.

It happened Friday — and to two of their hotter arms.

Ryan Pressly – who had 16 consecutive scoreless appearances before Friday – allowed a two-run homer to Mitch Garver in the sixth inning. The veteran had hit a low point on May 6, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in a tough extra-innings loss to the San Francisco Giants. Since then, however, he had thrown 15 scoreless innings, allowing only one unearned run with three walks and 14 strikeouts.

Pressly’s command had improved, and he begun to touch 95 mph with his four-seam fastball again. On Friday, though, he allowed a walk and the homer, spoiling his scoreless run and allowing Seattle to tie the score.

Left-hander Caleb Thielbar had been on an even better run – and it was snapped by an AL MVP candidate in catcher Cal Raleigh. Thielbar had gone 17 consecutive outings without allowing a run, and that streak was broken by Raleigh’s two-run blast — his second of the game and 29th of the season.

Thielbar had started the season slow – he allowed four runs in his first seven outings (5.2 innings) for a 6.35 ERA — but he locked it down and developed into a key member of Counsell’s reliever corps.

It was unrealistic to expect both Pressly, Thielbar or even left-hander Drew Pomeranz (who has yet to allow an earned run in his first 21 outings) or right-hander Chris Flexen to never give up an earned run again. The nature of relief pitchers means they’ll give up some runs — and they’ll hurt — but it’s more about how they will bounce back from this outing.

Boyd’s fast hands

Matthew Boyd had his shortest outing at Wrigley as a Cub, as the left-hander pitched just five innings of two-run ball, but he still had a memorable moment.

Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford hit a 104.7-mph liner back to Boyd on the final pitch of his outing, and the pitcher caught the ball for the final out — on a play more instinctual than skill-based.

It came at a price, however, as Boyd was forced out of the game with a shoulder bruise.

Boyd allowed two hits and two walks with six strikeouts on 76 pitches. He’s been so crucial for the Cubs this season, with a 2.84 ERA this season in 85.2 innings across 15 starts.

The Cubs’ rotation has dealt with injuries to their co-aces — Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele — but been buoyed by Boyd and Jameson Taillon’s performances in their absence.

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Liam McNeeley high school basketball highlights

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