April 2026 ~ ERIUS JRNL

All-time best Illinois HS football star? Vote in '250 for 250' poll

While Illinois is not the first state that comes to mind when it comes to high school football, the Prairie State has had its fair share of success sending players to college and then the pros.

As theUnited States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.

So, who among the best of the best has defined the Friday Night Lights in Illinois?

More:Who is the greatest Texas high school football legend of all time? Vote now!

These are our selections for the football players who defined Illinois. The 15 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standout players at the high school level before they eventually went on to play at both the college and professional ranks.

Did we miss someone? There's a spot for you to write in your own candidate who wasn't included on our list of 15.

Dick Butkus, FB/LB, Chicago Vocational

Fittingly, the list kicks off with a player who only played in Illinois for his entire football career. But before he shone with the Illinois Illini Fighting Illini and the Chicago Bears, the Pro Football Hall of Famer played high school football in the state. He was named Chicago's Player of the Year as a junior.

Gary Fencik, DB, Barrington

Fencik, one of the singers of "The Super Bowl Shuffle," on the 1985 Chicago Bears, actually began his career at Barrington High School. Fencik graduated from Barrington in 1972 before attending Yale and having an NFL career with the Bears.

Otto Graham, RB, Waukegan

Before becoming a star NFL QB, Graham began his high school career at Waukegan High School, where he was all-state in football and basketball. He also excelled as a musician, playing the violin, French horn and cornet.

Red Grange, RB, Wheaton

The "Galloping Ghost"scored 36 touchdowns in his junior season, leading Wheaton to an undefeated season. He earned 16 varsity letters in football, baseball, basketball and track in high school, finishing with 75 total touchdowns. The field at Wheaton Warrenville South High School is named after Grange.

George Halas, End, Crane

The former founder, owner, player and coach of the Chicago Bears played football, baseball and track at Crane Technical High School. Baseball was his best sport in high school, where he won a state championship as a senior.

Ty Isaac (Joliet Catholic)

As a junior, Isaac rushed for 515 yards and six touchdowns on 26 carries in the 2011 state Class 5A championship game. He finished with 2,629 yards and 51 touchdowns in that junior season. Despite injuries, Isaac had 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior.

Johnny Lattner, HB, Fenwick

The 1953 Heisman Trophy winner is the only Illinois high school player to earn the honors. In his senior season, Lattner averaged 18 yards per carry. He received more than 90 scholarships before deciding to attend Notre Dame.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Niles West

Mendenhall became a 5-star recruit after rushing for 1,300 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. He followed that up with 1,831 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior and then 1,453 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. He played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Donovan McNabb, QB, Mt. Carmel

Along with teammates Simeon Rice and Matt Cushing, McNabb led Mt. Carmel to a state championship in football in 1991. He led the program to the Chicago Prep Bowl championship in 1993 as a senior. He was also a star in track and in basketball, where he played with future NBA star Antoine Walker.

Ray Nitschke, LB, Proviso Township

The future Hall of Fame linebacker with the Green Bay Packers began his career in high school at Proviso Township (now Proviso East High School), where he was a star quarterback and safety. He excelled despite not playing his sophomore year, when he was ruled ineligible due to academic reasons.

James Robinson, RB, Rockford Lutheran

Robinson holds the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) record for career rushing yards (9,045) and rushing touchdowns (158). As a senior, he recorded 2,461 yards and 44 touchdowns, earning Class 4A All-State honors.

Laquon Treadwell, WR, Crete-Monee

Treadwell finished his Illinois high school career as the second-leading receiver with 3,563 yards in prep history in the state. He led Crete-Monee to a 6A state championship as a senior, finishing the year with 81 catches for 1,424 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushing for 257 yards and seven touchdowns. He also added 56 tackles and six interceptions on defense.

Jonas Williams, QB, Bolingbrook

The 2026 USC signee finished his high school career with 11,347 passing yards and 147 passing touchdowns, both of which make him the all-time leader in Illinois. In his senior season, he threw for 2,488 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Juice Williams, QB, Chicago Vocational

Williams threw for 1,841 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior with Chicago Vocational, while also adding 1,441 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground, good for an average of 21.8 yards per carry. He was selected for the Chicago Public League All-Star game and served as a reserve for the Army All-American Bowl.

Martez Wilson, DE, Simeon

Wilsonput up video game stats as a seniorwith Simeon with 240 tackles, seven sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also added 42 grabs for 1,005 yards and nine touchdowns on offense.

USA TODAY 250 for 250: Who do you think is the best of the best?

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April 30, 2026

All-time best Illinois HS football star? Vote in '250 for 250' poll

While Illinois is not the first state that comes to mind when it comes to high school football, the Prairie State has had its fair shar...

King Charles Gets an Unexpected Compliment About His Hair During Solo Outing in Harlem

King Charles' day in New York City included visiting an urban farm in Harlem

King Charles visits Harlem on April 29, 2026Credit: Press Association via AP Images

NEED TO KNOW

While there, a young student paid the monarch a compliment
The King also had to be coaxed away from a chicken coop to continue the tour

King Charlesheaded to Harlem during his andQueen Camilla's day in New York City.

The British monarch made a solo stop at an urban farm in Harlem, arriving around 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 29, and was greeted by Tony Hillery, founder and chief executive of Harlem Grown, a nonprofit that operates urban farms to provide youth development programming. There, he was shown by Harlem Grown members and schoolchildren from Thurgood Marshall Lower Academy around the raised beds, greenhouse, tool shed, composting station, chicken coops, bee hives and more in the middle of a city block.

At one point, one of the students had a compliment for the King: "I like your hair," the child said.

“Do you? Good,” King Charles replied.

King Charles, 77, was enthusiastic about feeding chickens — after all, he tends to the animals back in the U.K., and his flock lives in acoop dubbed Cluckingham Palace. Hillery had to coax the monarch away from the chickens to continue the tour.

Hillery was left with a special gift: honey from bees at Highgrove House, one of the King’s residences.

After the farm visit, the King stopped to shake a few hands of onlookers waiting behind a barricade.

“I’m sure I’m ruining your day,” the King said, referencing the street closure that was part of the security measures surrounding the monarch's visit.

While King Charles was in Harlem,Queen Camillahad herown solo event. The Queen, 78, celebrated the U.S. and the U.K.'s shared love of literature and her charity,The Queen's Reading Room, at the New York Public Library, and guests included Sarah Jessica Parker, Jenna Bush Hager, Anna Wintour and more.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in New York City on Wednesday morning after spending two days in Washington, D.C., to kick off their state visit. Their schedule in the capital city included a White House dinner with PresidentDonald Trumpand first ladyMelania Trumpas well as King Charles'historic address to Congress.

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April 30, 2026

King Charles Gets an Unexpected Compliment About His Hair During Solo Outing in Harlem

King Charles' day in New York City included visiting an urban farm in Harlem NEED TO KNOW While there, a young...

Defending champion PSG faces 6-time winner Bayern in Champions League semifinal

PARIS (AP) — Titleholder Paris Saint-Germain hosts six-time winner Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday.

PSG's Desire Doue, left, celebrates with PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool in Paris, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Munich's Harry Kane celebrates his side's fourth goal during a German Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and Bayern Munich in Mainz, Germany, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool in Paris, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Bayern Munich's coach Vincent Kompany attends a team training session ahead of a Champions League semi-final, first leg soccer match against Paris Saint-Germain, in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 27, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique reacts during the French League One soccer match between Angers and Paris Saint-Germain in Angers, western France, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mathieu Pattier)

APTOPIX France Champions League Soccer

Coach Luis Enrique's PSG is atfull strengthwhile Vincent Kompany's Bayern has already clinched a record-extending35th Bundesliga championshipand remains on course for a treble.

Kompany is suspended, meaning he's barred from the dressing room and the touchline at Parc des Princes.Bayern won 2-1in Paris in the league stage in November with left winger Luis Díaz scoring twice.

Two-time finalist PSG is appearing in its third straight semifinal and faces a Bayern which has not lost in any competition since Jan. 24 and scored 19 goals in the past five games.

Striker Harry Kane netted his 53rd goal of another prolific season on Saturday and right winger Michael Olise also was on target as Bayernrallied from 3-0 downat halftime to beat Mainz 4-3 in the Bundesliga.

Ligue 1 leader PSG also rested some first-teamers in a3-0 win at Angerson Saturday and hopes to have midfielders Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz ready to start alongside João Neves at Parc des Princes.

Paris MayorEmmanuel Grégoiresaid he would attend the game and Paris city hall was decked out in PSG's colors.

“Tonight I will be beside the team at Parc des Princes,” heposted on X. “All Parisians are with you, we're waiting for a victory. Good luck.”

Spanish side Atletico Madrid hosts London club Arsenal on Wednesday in the other semifinal first leg.

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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April 28, 2026

Defending champion PSG faces 6-time winner Bayern in Champions League semifinal

PARIS (AP) — Titleholder Paris Saint-Germain hosts six-time winner Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal o...

T-wolves beat Nuggets, lose Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo to injuries

Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score a career-high 43 points on 13-for-17 shooting, and the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 112-96 win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series on Saturday night in Minneapolis.

The victory, which gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, came at a cost to the Timberwolves, who lost two starters due to injury.

Anthony Edwards, a four-time All-Star and the team's top scorer, left in the second quarter and did not return because of a left knee injury. Edwards leaped to try to block a shot and landed awkwardly on his left leg, and he quickly dropped to the court and clutched his knee.

Team officials helped Edwards to his feet and he placed his arms around their shoulders. He put little weight on his left leg as he hobbled toward the locker room.

Earlier in the first half, Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo headed toward the locker room after he injured his right leg on a non-contact play. DiVincenzo planted his foot to pursue a loose ball and fell to the hardwood, and he grabbed the back of his right leg in pain.

Early reports indicated that DiVincenzo might have ruptured his Achilles tendon on the play.

Naz Reid added 17 points off the bench for Minnesota. Julius Randle finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Rudy Gobert grabbed a game-high-tying 15 rebounds to go along with four points.

Jamal Murray scored 30 points on 10-for-25 shooting to lead Denver. Nikola Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. However, he shot 8-for-22 from the field and missed all three of his 3-point attempts.

The series returns to Denver for Game 5 on Monday night.

Dosunmu took over in his teammates' absence. He helped Minnesota outscore Denver 62-42 in the second half to take a commanding lead in the series.

The Nuggets led 76-74 late in the third quarter before Dosunmu helped Minnesota take charge. He made a pair of free throws as Minnesota finished the quarter on an 8-2 run to grab an 82-78 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Dosunmu continued to assert himself. He hit a driving layup and a pull-up bank shot to increase the Timberwolves' lead to 95-82 with 7:53 to go.

Denver struggled to keep pace the rest of the way, and Jokic took exception to a layup by Jaden McDaniels with 2.1 seconds left. Jokic and Randle were ejected in the closing seconds after players from both teams shoved one another near the sidelines.

--Field Level Media

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April 27, 2026

T-wolves beat Nuggets, lose Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo to injuries

Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score a career-high 43 points on 13-for-17 shooting, and the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves pull...

Magic survive a late collapse, rally past Pistons for a 2-1 series lead

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane each scored 25 points, and the Orlando Magic blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead before rallying to beat the Detroit Pistons 113-105 on Saturday for a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Banchero had 12 rebounds and nine assists. Franz Wagner scored 17 points for Orlando, which got 15 from Jalen Suggs and a 14-point, 17-rebound game from Wendell Carter Jr.

Cade Cunningham scored 27 for Detroit, which trailed 96-79 with 8:34 left — then outscored the Magic 26-8 over the next six minutes to grab the lead. But the Pistons, who got 23 points from Tobias Harris, couldn’t hold on.

Game 4 is Monday night in Orlando.

It’s the 13th time since 1984, when the NBA went to the 16-team format, that a No. 8 seed has taken a 2-1 lead in a first-round series over a No. 1 seed.

Of the previous 12, five finished off the upset. Those teams: Miami in 2023, Philadelphia in 2012, Memphis in 2011, Golden State in 2007 and New York in 1999. And that doesn’t include Denver’s upset of Seattle in 1994, the first 8-over-1 series win in NBA history.

The Magic — who had to win an elimination game at home just over a week ago to escape the play-in tournament — are trying to be the next name on that list.

THUNDER 121, SUNS 109

PHOENIX (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points in a brilliant shooting performance, Ajay Mitchell added 15 in place of the injured Jalen Williams and Oklahoma City beat Phoenix to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.

Gilgeous-Alexander — the league’s reigning MVP — hit 15 of 18 shots on a variety of tough looks, frustrating a Suns defense that actually played decently for much of the game. Alex Caruso added 13 points off the bench while Chet Holmgren had 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

The defending champion Thunder will go for the sweep in Game 4 on Monday in Phoenix.

Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting while Jalen Green added 26.

Oklahoma City took an 87-79 lead after three quarters and never trailed in the fourth. Gilegous-Alexander hit a difficult fallaway 19-foot jumper to put the Thunder up 102-87 with about five minutes left, deflating the Suns crowd and pretty much ending any hope for a comeback.

KNICKS 114, HAWKS 98

ATLANTA (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had his first postseason triple-double, OG Anunoby scored 22 points and New York recovered after back-to-back losses to beat Atlanta, tying the Eastern Conference playoff series at 2-2.

Towns had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The 11th-year All-Star became the fourth Knicks player to record a triple-double in a playoff game, joining Walt Frazier, Dick McGuire and Josh Hart.

The Knicks host Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, and the series is now guaranteed to return to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday.

New York took control of the game midway through the first quarter and maintained the lead for the rest of the game. The Knicks held a 68-44 advantage at halftime and extended that lead to 20 points by the end of the third quarter.

New York, who had one-point losses in the previous two games, returned to form behind its core of Towns, Anunoby and Jalen Brunson, who scored 19 points.

TIMBERWOLVES 112, NUGGETS 96

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 43 points, stepping up afterleg injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzowith the highest-scoring playoff performance by a reserve in 50 years, and Minnesota beat Denver.

The Timberwolves took a 3-1 lead in the series in a game that ended with ejections of Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Minnesota’s Julius Randle after Jokic became angry when Jaden McDaniels made a meaningless layup with 2.1 seconds remaining and confronted the Wolves’ swingman near his bench.

The story before that was Dosunmu, who had the best performance by a sub since Fred Brown scored 45 off the bench for Seattle in a 116-111 loss to Phoenix on April 15, 1976.

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April 26, 2026

Magic survive a late collapse, rally past Pistons for a 2-1 series lead

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane each scored 25 points, and the Orlando Magic blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead b...

Ravens take Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane with 14th pick, opting to shore up offensive line

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens took Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane with the 14th pick in the draft Thursday night.

A Baltimore Ravens fan reacts to the team's first overall draft selection of guard Olaivavega Ioane during an NFL football draft party at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens fans react to the team's first overall draft selection of guard Olaivavega Ioane during an NFL football draft party at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

NFL Draft Ravens Football

Ioane fills an obvious need for the Ravens, who had problems in the middle of the offensive line last season and then lost star center Tyler Linderbaum to free agency. There were other possible options — Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was still available — but ultimately Baltimore ended up with a player that wasexpected to beone of its targets all along.

Despite a disappointing season for Penn State, Ioane was a second-team All-American.

The Ravens went 8-9 last season, missed the playoffs and then fired coach John Harbaugh. They shored up one obvious need — the pass rush — by signing Trey Hendrickson in free agency.

They almost didn't have the 14th pick. They agreed to send two first-round picks to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby, then backed out of that deal before it became official.

AP NFL:https://apnews.com/NFL

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April 25, 2026

Ravens take Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane with 14th pick, opting to shore up offensive line

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens took Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane with the 14th pick in the draft Thursday night. ...

See who Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans picked during NFL 2026 Draft round 1

The eyes of Texas were upon the Steel City asDallas CowboysandHouston Texansfans waited to see who each team would pick in during round 1 of the2026 NFL Draft.

Dallascame into round 1 with two picks — No. 12 and 20 — but made last-minute selection trades.

The Cowboys traded up with theMiami Dolphinsfrom No. 12 to No. 11 and traded No. 20 to thePhiladelphia Eaglesfor No. 23.

Houstonalso traded up with theBuffalo Billsfor No. 28 to No. 26 in the draft.

It remains to be seen if both teams made the right decisions so far, but here is a look at who was chosen on day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.

See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.