Brandon Lee joins the Fighting Illini 2025 class

CHAMPAIGN — The Fighting Illini secured a major piece of their 2025 basketball recruiting class on Monday with the signing of 6-foot-4 shooting guard Brandon Lee, head coach Brad Underwood announced. Lee, the son of Puerto Rican basketball icon Butch Lee, joins Illinois as a dynamic scorer with international and elite AAU experience.

Born in Puerto Rico and currently playing at The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey, Lee brings a multifaceted offensive game to Champaign. Ranked No. 98 in the 2025 class by 247Sports, he has proven himself as a three-level scorer with the ability to dominate high-stakes competition.

"Brandon is a gifted scorer and an aggressive offensive player who can score at all three levels," Underwood said. "He has great physicality which allows him to score at the rim, get to the foul line, and he is a very capable shooter with range at the 3-point line."

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Lee’s pedigree extends far beyond his own burgeoning résumé. His father, Butch Lee, was a trailblazer as the first Puerto Rican to play in the NBA. The elder Lee made history at Marquette University, where he earned the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1978 before being selected 10th overall in the NBA Draft. That legacy is part of what has shaped Brandon’s basketball journey, which has included starring for Puerto Rico in international tournaments and excelling in top-tier AAU circuits.

On the Nike EYBL circuit with the New York Rens, Lee emerged as one of the top young players in the country. Averaging 23 points per game, he finished as the third-leading scorer and earned the Breakout MVP award for the 17U division at The Circuit. At the prestigious Peach Jam, he further impressed, posting 18.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

Lee’s skills shone on the international stage this summer at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup, where he led Puerto Rico in scoring with 13.3 points per game, including a standout 22-point performance against Team USA in the quarterfinals.

"He has faced high-level competition throughout high school and AAU, and he has FIBA experience as well with Puerto Rico," Underwood added. "Brandon comes from a basketball family, so it's no surprise he is a high IQ player who has been well-coached throughout his career. We're excited to officially welcome him to the Fighting Illini family."

Illinois’ recruiting momentum has been significant, as Lee becomes the fourth guard to join Underwood’s 2025 class. He chose Illinois over offers from Rutgers, Mississippi State, Seton Hall, and several other programs, signaling the strength of the program’s appeal. Lee joins recent commit Keaton Wagler as part of a backcourt poised to keep the Illini competitive in the Big Ten for years to come.

With his blend of experience, scoring versatility, and NBA bloodlines, Lee is poised to make a significant impact at State Farm Center.

Keywords: Brandon Lee Illinois basketball, Fighting Illini 2025 recruiting class, Puerto Rican basketball stars, Brad Underwood Illinois signing, Illini Basketball
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Today's prep basketball live streams

Raegen Stringer playing basketball Unity's Raegen Stringer goes up for a shot between Urbana's Aziyiaha Davis and Mia Schroeder during their non-conference game last December. The Unity girls' basketball team open their season tonight at the Bunny Tip-Off against Iroquois West (0-1).

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Unity stings visiting Nashville in quarterfinal romp, Rockets readying for semifinal at Monticello

Garrett Richardson picks up a Unity first down, bouncing off of Nashville's Grady Kirchner. Two plays later, the senior, who finished with 205 all-purpose yards, would score the first of four touchdowns in Saturday's home game.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
TOLONO — Long before the game ended, Unity's first-string was chillin' in the waning November sunlight, singing Sweet Caroline and practicing their Cupid Shuffle steps on the sideline. It took a little more than 28 minutes for them to earn their R&R and from time to time cheer on a big play by fellow JV players. By now, the Rockets punched their ticket to the Illinois Class 3A state semifinals in commanding fashion, overwhelming the Nashville Hornets 47-24 in Saturday's quarterfinal matchup at Hicks Field.

The Rockets (9-3), who have surged since a midseason loss to Bloomington Central Catholic, showcased their dominance on both sides of the ball. Nashville (10-2), riding a nine-game win streak and averaging 40 points per game, managed just six points against Unity's varsity defense before scoring three touchdowns late against the Rockets' junior varsity.

Unity Rocket Football Fan
A Unity student fan cheers during the second half after another touchdown.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Unity wasted no time establishing control, scoring on every possession of the first half. Quarterback Dane Eisenmenger led a high-powered Unity offense, throwing four touchdown passes and showcasing precision under playoff pressure.

"I think getting the wind at our backs in the first quarter really helped us," Unity head coach Scott Hamilton said, summarizing the explosive first-quarter barrage of scoring. "Special teams pinned them down early and our defense did a good job. We were able to get on the board early and kept rolling from there. We took them out of what they [Nashville] do."

Garrett Richardson, the team’s workhorse running back, opened the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. He followed that with a 50-yard touchdown reception, catching a perfect spiral over his shoulder from Eisenmenger and racing into the end zone untouched.

Eisenmenger spread the wealth among his receiving corps, connecting with Mason O’Neill for a leaping touchdown catch in the back of the end zone and hitting Brady Parr for a 10-yard score early in the second quarter. With 6:21 remaining in the half, wide receiver Tre Hoggard added a rushing touchdown, barreling through the Hornets' defense to make it 35-6 at halftime.

Unity’s defense was equally impressive, with Tyler Henry snagging three interceptions, one of which set up O’Neill’s touchdown. Henry, whose father holds the Illinois high school record for career interceptions, came within two yards of a pick-six after a dazzling 55-yard return.

"I was in the right spot," Henry said, still pumped up from the quarterfinal victory and his three interceptions. He had multiple chances earlier in the season to pick off a pass or two but always came up short. Today was different. "I just saw the ball in the air, and I just went and got it.

Unity's Tyler Henry

Tyler Henry is pulled down from behind by Hornets' Brynner Inman after grabbing his second interception against Nashville. The junior finished the day with three picks and has 54 tackles going into the game with Monticello later this week.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Richardson capped Unity’s scoring in the third quarter with a short touchdown run, pushing the lead to 47-6 and activating the running clock. Nashville managed three late touchdowns against Unity’s reserves, but the outcome was never in doubt.

Richardson finished the day with 155 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. He also caught a touchdown pass, highlighting his versatility and value to the Rockets’ offense. Eisenmenger, who completed 15 of 18 passes for 217 yards, displayed poise and efficiency, finding four different targets for touchdowns.

Hoggard led all receivers with 10 catches for 109 yards, while Parr and O’Neill made the most of their opportunities, each snagging a touchdown in critical moments.

Caden Hench was a busy bee, collecting 11 tackles in two and half quarters against the Hornets. The heavy hitting done, he other members of the starting defense soak up the moment, knowing they will play another game in seven days.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Unity’s defense was relentless, holding a potent Nashville offense in check for most of the game. Junior linebacker Caden Hensch led the way with 11 tackles, including eight solo stops, while Coleton Langendorf added two sacks. Ryan Rink contributed six tackles in a gritty defensive effort.

"We knew they were a run heavy team. Once we stopped the run, our DB's are all good enough to stop the pass," Henry said. "We all settled in and it was game from there."

Special teams were another key factor, consistently flipping field position in Unity’s favor and containing Nashville’s return game. Bailey’s accurate kicking provided the Rockets with crucial extra points to sustain momentum.

Hamilton said the defensive unit did a thorough job preparing for the Hornets. He was happy with how the Rockets came out ready to play, immediately taking control of the game on their first possession, and keeping their foot on the gas.

"Our defense did a great job putting them in tough field position," he said, complimenting their execution during the 27 minutes they were in the game and adjusting to the different offensive schemes. "We know next week we'll have to adjust to something new again. We will be ready for the challenge."

The Rockets now turn their attention to a semifinal clash with Illini Prairie Conference rival Monticello (10-2) next Saturday at 2 p.m. in Monticello. Unity won the teams’ Week 9 matchup 42-28, but the stakes are much higher this time with a berth in the state championship game on the line.

"I think it will be a good game," Henry said. "They are a good team. We played them earlier in the season and we won. We'll have a long week of practice, and we'll be good."

The winner will face either Montini (10-2) or Wilmington (12-0) for the Class 3A title on Nov. 29 at Redbird Stadium in Normal.

Unity football players singing on the sidelines
While players on the Nashville sidelines were likely singing the blues, Jaden Dene and three fellow players joined in together during a time out to sing the chorus to "Sweet Caroline" with the student fans behind them. The Rockets are one game away from another state final appearance, the last in November 2021.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Keywords: Unity Rockets football, Nashville Hornets playoff game, Illinois Class 3A state semifinals, Quarterback Dane Eisenmenger leads Unity, Garrett Richardson unstoppable, Unity vs. Monticello rematch
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Today's area basketball team live streams

Oakwood's Jaydah Arrowsmith tries to dribble the ball around St. Joseph-Ogden's Timera Blackburn-Kelley during last season's road game at SJO. After the final buzzer, the Comets fell 53-23 to the Spartans in the non-conference contest. While Arrowsmith, a senior during this game, has moved on, Oakwood opens their 2024-25 campaign today without her leadership, hosting the Purpler Riders of Arcola.

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IHSA semifinal football playoff schedule

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Class 3A All-Stater Zeke Young looks for open turf during Monticello's first game of the season. After the opening loss to St. Joseph-Ogden, Young led the Sages on a seven-game win streak.

That was until the season finale against Unity, now Monticello's only barrier to berth in the Class 3A state title game on November 29 at Redbird Stadium in Normal. Will the Sages avenge the earlier two-score, 42-28 loss in Week 9? Kickoff is at 2 PM at Monticello. Here is a listing for all eight football classes this weekend.

Class 1A
mifinals (Nov. 23)
  • (2) Lena-Winslow (12-0) at (1) LeRoy (12-0), 2 p.m. Saturday
  • (3) Camp Point Central (11-1) at (1) Belleville Althoff (12-0), 2 p.m. Saturday
Championship game: 10 a.m. Nov. 29


Class 2A
Semifinals (Nov. 23)
  • (6) Chicago Christian (11-1) at (1) Farmington (12-0), 2 p.m. Saturday
  • (2) Maroa-Forsyth (11-1) at (1) Johnston City (11-1), 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Championship game: 1 p.m. Nov. 29


Class 3A
Semifinals (Nov. 23)
  • (2) Wilmington (12-0) at (9) Montini (10-2), 1 p.m. Saturday
  • (9) Tolono Unity (9-3) at (6) Monticello (10-2), 2 p.m. Saturday
Championship game: 4 p.m. Nov. 29


Class 4A
Semifinals (Nov. 23)
  • (9) DePaul (9-3) at (7) Coal City (10-2), 1 p.m. Saturday
  • (12) Mt. Zion (9-3) at (10) Normal U-High (10-2), 7 p.m. Saturday
Championship game: 7 p.m. Nov. 29


Class 5A
Semifinals (Nov. 23)
  • (4) St. Francis (10-2) at (3) Nazareth (10-2), 1 p.m. Saturday
  • (13) Morris (8-4) at (6) Joliet Catholic (9-3), 2 p.m. Saturday
Championship game: 10 a.m. Nov. 30


Class 6A
Semifinals (Nov. 23)
  • (1) Cary-Grove (12-0) at (3) Geneva (11-1), 1 p.m. Saturday
  • (2) Richards (11-1) at (1) East St. Louis (11-1), 2 p.m. Saturday
Championship game: 1 p.m. Nov. 30


Class 7A
Semifinals (Nov. 23)
  • (4) Batavia (11-1) at (24) Lincoln-Way Central (9-3), 5 p.m. Saturday
  • (19) Mt. Carmel (9-3) at (10) St. Rita (10-2), 3 p.m. Saturday
Championship game: 4 p.m. Nov. 30


Class 8A
Semifinals (Nov. 23)
  • (12) Loyola (10-2) at (1) Lincoln-Way East (12-0), 6 p.m. Saturday
  • (14) York (10-2) at (7) Naperville Central (11-1), 6 p.m. Saturday
Championship game: 7 p.m. Nov. 30


Keywords: Monticello Football, Unity Football, IHSA Football Playoffs, State Football Semifinal Schedule
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IHSA quarterfinal football results

Unity defenders making a tackle
Nashville's Hayden Klingeman is smashed by Unity brothers Brayden and Tyler Henry during their Class 3A quarterfinal game on Saturday. Starting the running clock early in the third quarter, the Rockets defeated the Hornets 47-24, advancing to face their week 9 conference opponent Monticello this Saturday on the road.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
CLASS 1A
LeRoy 37 - Galena 21
Lena-Winslow 40 - Gibson City 7
Belleville Althoff 54 - Casey Westfield 7
Camp Point Central 16 - Calhoun 7

CLASS 2A
Farmington 42 - Dwight 7
Palos Heights Chicago Christian 34 - Bismarck-Hennin 13
Johnston City 28 - Pana 13
Maroa-Forsyth 22 - Quincy Notre Dame 21

CLASS 3A
Lombard Montini 24 - Princeton 7
Wilmington 22 - Pecatonica 13
Tolono Unity 47 - Nashville 24
Monticello 27 - Benton 26

CLASS 4A
Chicago DePaul 26 - Burbank St. Laurence 14
Coal City 20 - Dixon 13
Mt. Zion 17 - Breese Central 3
Normal U High 31 - Cahokia 12

CLASS 5A
Wheaton St. Francis 10 - Sycamore 0
LaGrange Park Nazareth 42 - Rochelle 8
Morris 21 - Chicago Morgan Park 7
Joliet Catholic 43 - Peoria 8

CLASS 6A
Cary Grove 42 - Belvidere North 7
Geneva 49 - Lake Forest 14
East St. Louis 58 - Chatham Glenwood 14
Oak Lawn Richard 21 - Kankakee 20

CLASS 7A
New Lenox Lincoln-Way Central 28 - Bradley-Bourbonnais 16
Batavia 17 - Downers Grove North 7
Chicago St. Rita 49 - Quincy 14
Chicago Mt. Carmel 49 - Normal 41

CLASS 8A
Frankfort Lincoln-Way East 45 - Lincolnshire Stevenson 0
Wilmette Loyola 35 - Park Ridge Maine South 14
Naperville Central 24 - LaGrange Lyons 7
Elmhurst 34 - Gurnee Warren 15

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KEYWORDS: Unity Rockets Football, Loyola Academy Football, 2024 IHSA Football Playoffs, Quarterfinal Football Scores
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Guest Commentary |
Our cell phone dilemma

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator


Do you miss the old telephone days? They weren’t that long ago. Back in the old days, all we had were landlines. You may still only have a landline but it’s becoming rare as more people depend solely on cell phones.

When you traveled in the past you had to find a pay phone to make a call. Pay phones were not that easy to locate and they were expensive. Today, pay phones are rare.

Hotel telephone calls were terrible. It cost a fortune to make calls from a hotel room. If you made several, you had a big bill to pay when you checked out.

Long distance calls used to be the pits. We have all had family and friends who lived in other counties or other states. You couldn’t talk to them very much because it could easily add $20 - $30 to your bill. Thirty years ago, that was a lot of extra money for a phone bill.

Today is the golden era of mass communication. We pay a price for our cell phone and we talk on it all month. I realize it depends on the plan you have. Overall, people use their phones and call wherever they want to call and talk as long as they want to talk. For just a very small monthly fee, I can talk to someone in most in any country at any time of the day, most of the time.

We’ve grown very reliant on our cell phones. We have to know where they are every minute of every day. Life becomes a dilemma when we can’t find our cell phones.

I have hundreds if not thousands of treasured family pictures on my cell phone. I contact all my family and friends on my cell phone. I don’t know their phones numbers. I punch in their name and their phone rings. All my work associates are contacted via my cell phone. I stay in touch with them by simply sending them a text or sometimes calling them. I would not know how to contact them if I lost my phone.

I do most of my work each day on my cell phone. I can gain access to my websites and other business support sites to do a lot of the work that pertains to my vocation. I send and respond to emails on my phone. My wife, children and I stay in contact through my cell phone.

The navigation feature tells me how to get to places I haven’t been before. Occasionally, if I get lazy, I pull an app up on my phone and about 40 minutes later I have food at my door. I check my airplane travel on my phone. I make sure my flight is on time and verify my seat assignment. The list goes on and on.

When my cell phone dies or is lost, it becomes a big problem. It becomes a problem not only for me but for other people who count on me to fulfill various work commitments and assignments. Of course, we all doodle on Social Media. Without our cell phones or tablets we would miss out on all the “junk” that we constantly see on Facebook, X, Instagram, and etc. Without your cell phone, you might not know what everybody else is doing. Back in the old days, the only way we knew what everyone else was doing was to listen in on our eight family party lines. If you don’t know what this is just ask an older person.

Often, the cell phone becomes a hassle. Multiple text messages from unknown people, politicians, scammers and others can become wearisome. We delete, block, unsubscribe and we still receive them. However, we can turn our phones off. We should definitely do this more than we do.

Please consider turning it off during your Thanksgiving dinner. Also, why not consider turning it off when you are having a dinner with your spouse or friend or family. Give it a break. We’ve all seen couples sitting in restaurants with each one of them starring at a cell phone. Give it a rest! Talk to people and make some personal connection with a real person.

We can all “live” life for an hour or two without looking at our phones in order to have some real conversations with real people. However, you’ll be comforted knowing it’s in your pocket or purse for your full attention at any given time.

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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Area Holiday Event Calendar

Here is our latest list of area holiday events for Champaign, Ogden, Philo, Savoy, Sidney, St. Joseph, Tolono, and Urbana. Bookmark this page if you are looking for fun activities to do or unique places to shop this holiday season. in The Sentinel area. This page will be updated regularly with new events. Is your event not listed below? Send your event information to editor@oursentinel.com.


.::. November 28, 2024

.::. November 30, 2024

.::. December 1, 2024

.::. December 7, 2024

.::. December 8, 2024

.::. December 14, 2024


.::. December 15, 2024

.::. December 19, 2024

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Illinois' Kenta Miyoshi advances to NCAA Singles Championship in Waco

EAST LANSING — University of Illinois junior Kenta Miyoshi has secured his place in the NCAA Singles Championship following a stellar performance at the ITA Midwest Regional held at Michigan State University. Miyoshi's qualification marks a significant milestone in his collegiate tennis career as he prepares to compete in Waco, Texas, from Nov. 19-24.

The Kawasaki, Japan, native showcased remarkable consistency and poise throughout the tournament, stringing together five consecutive victories before falling in the final to top-seeded and top-ranked Ozan Baris of Michigan State. Miyoshi’s progress highlights the growing competitiveness of Big Ten players on the national circuit. His adaptability and skill against ranked opponents position him as a strong contender in Waco, while his resilience and discipline make him one to watch in the upcoming season at Illinois.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Kenta Miyoshi rips a forehand shot at the 2023 Illini Open. The Illinois junior will play against the top college tennis players in the country at the NCAA Singles Championship later this week.

Miyoshi opened the competition with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Alex Fuchs of Ohio State in the Round of 64, followed by a dominant 6-0, 6-0 shutout against Michigan State’s David Saye. His commanding form continued in the Round of 16 with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory over Michigan’s Alex Cairo.

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The quarterfinals and semifinals tested Miyoshi’s mettle against ranked opponents. He outlasted No. 4 seed and No. 13-ranked Sebastian Dominko (Notre Dame) 6-2, 7-6(6) in the quarters and edged past No. 6 seed and No. 70-ranked Alexander Bernard (Ohio State) in a nail-biting 7-6(8), 6-4 semifinal. Despite his valiant effort, Miyoshi succumbed 6-4, 6-3 in the final against Baris, capping an exceptional run at the ITA Midwest Regional.

Miyoshi’s performance in East Lansing adds to an impressive fall season in which he boasts a 10-4 singles record, with seven of those wins coming against ranked opponents. This includes a standout victory in the singles consolation bracket at the Battle in the Bay, where he recorded four consecutive wins over ranked competition.

The junior’s consistency against elite opposition has been a hallmark of his fall campaign. Out of his 14 singles matches, 10 were against ranked players, underscoring his readiness to compete at the highest level. Miyoshi becomes one of just eight Big Ten athletes to advance to the 64-player NCAA Singles Championship draw this fall, a prestigious event now held in autumn for the first time.

Miyoshi will face No. 77 Jack Loutit of Kentucky in the opening round of the NCAA Singles Championship. Loutit, a sophomore originally from Auckland, New Zealand, brings an impressive pedigree with a top-50 ITF Junior ranking and multiple international titles. Their matchup promises to be an early highlight of the tournament as Miyoshi continues to establish presence representing Illinois on the national stage.

Miyoshi is aiming to become the first Illinois men’s tennis player since Amer Delic in 2003 to claim the NCAA singles title. With his recent form and ability to excel under pressure, Miyoshi may be the next tennis star to represent the Illini tennis program.

Keywords: Kenta Miyoshi, NCAA Singles Championship, Illni Tennis, NCAA tennis qualifier, ITA Midwest Regional, Fighting Illini Sports
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Editor's Choice

Another season, another trophy, Rockets take third at state!

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks CHAMPAIGN - Members of the Unity Rockets basketball team hoist their third-place trophy after defeating Far...

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