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Column: Loyola High's Sean Kelly seeks fantastic finish and section volleyball title

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Column: Loyola High's Sean Kelly seeks fantastic finish and section volleyball title

Sean Kelly, the best 18-year-old boys’ volleyball player in America, is not standing pat on his talents. When Loyola High had a week off from school last month, he called coach Mike Boehle and asked him to open the gym and feed him passes.

“His work ethic and what he wanted me to do was pretty amazing,” Boehle said.

At 6 feet 7 and 180 pounds, Kelly towers over most. Then, when he leaps and crushes the ball, it’s like experiencing a mini-earthquake as it hits the gym court.

“He can take us to another level by himself. He can take over a match by himself,” Boehle said.

Kelly was captain of the U19 USA national team and MVP of the Pan Am Cup in 2022. He gets straight A’s in school and is so humble you’d never know he was an All-America. But make no mistake, he’s not satisfied.

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This is his fourth and final season at Loyola, and he’s never won a Southern Section Division 1 championship. Last season the Cubs were upset by Corona del Mar in the semifinals. They came back to win the regional championship but the section title is priority No. 1 this season.

“It’s definitely motivating me,” he said. “It’s the fourth shot I’ve gotten and the last one.”

Sean Kelly of Loyola is the No. 1 volleyball player in the nation and headed to UCLA.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

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Kelly is headed to UCLA after he graduates high school. That was a major change in thinking. He originally committed to Princeton, then surprised the volleyball world with a reversal.

“It was just a change in mindset for me,” he said. “I think Princeton is a great school and great program, but I thought UCLA was best for me playing volleyball in the [Mountain Pacific] conference. Being closer to home is always nice. I thought about it for a couple months.”

One of Kelly’s offseason focuses has been gaining strength. It’s something he believes UCLA will be able to help him with. And who knows how powerful Kelly will become with improvement in the weight room.

“I think their strength program is is one of the best in the country,” he said. “I want to see the difference.”

For now, Kelly will try to elevate himself and teammates in becoming the best in Southern California volleyball this season. The Cubs were 29-2 last year and return 6-7 super sophomore Blake Fahlbusch as well as 6-2 Parker Schloss, 6-4 Emmett Martin and 6-4 Simon Capps.

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“Every teammate needs to hold each other accountable,” Kelly said. “Getting on your teammates when they trust you is important to getting them better. If your teammates trust you and you’re a little hard on them at one point, it gets much easier later and that’s a big part of leadership. No yelling but holding each other accountable.”

As usual, there’s lots of talent throughout Southern California.

Corona del Mar returns 6-6 outside hitter Sterling Foley, a USC commit. Mater Dei has 6-8 middle blocker Tyler Robinson, a USC commit. Victor Loiola of Mira Costa is a 6-4 outside hitter and Long Beach State commit. Jake Pazanti of Huntington Beach has been one of the best players in the Sunset League as a 6-3 setter and Long Beach State commit.

In the City Section, Chatsworth is considered the title favorite. A player to watch is Tom Altankhuyag of Eagle Rock. He’s a 6-7 middle blocker. “That guy is legitimate,” Granada Hills coach Tom Harp said.

Meanwhile, Kelly will continue to thrive and seek perfection without drawing attention to himself other than by his own play.

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“I try to stay humble at all times,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any reason to boast because there’s always something to improve on. I love playing. It always fires me up.”

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Victor Wembanyama puts hand on Jalen Brunson’s head, pushes him down as refs look the other way in Game 3

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Victor Wembanyama puts hand on Jalen Brunson’s head, pushes him down as refs look the other way in Game 3

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Victor Wembanyama’s aggression on the court was once again called into question as the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks played Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.

During the first half, Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson was trying to guard Wembanyama near the free throw line when the 7-foot-4 center put his hand on the back of Brunson’s head and shoved him to the court.

However, Wembanyama was never called for the foul and play continued with the Knicks in possession of the ball.

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Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks works against Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 8, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

Brunson immediately got into Wembanyama’s face, and it appeared the Frenchman was smiling before the point guard got back to business.

The incident was similar to one that occurred in Game 2’s win for the Knicks on the road, when Brunson’s backup, Jose Alvarado, went to box out Wembanyama. Alvarado, who has comparable stature to Brunson, was wrapped up by Wembanyama and thrown away from the play.

NBA RESCINDS MITCHELL ROBINSON’S TECHNICAL FOUL FROM GAME 2 OF FINALS AFTER REVIEWING SHOVING MATCH

Once again, no foul call was made.

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The Spurs are known for their physicality, but many believed that Wemby should’ve been called for fouls in these cases.

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks shoots a three-point basket over Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter of Game Three in the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 8, 2026. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

San Antonio started this game red-hot, owning an 11-point lead after the first quarter, 33-22. But these Knicks have consistently shown their ability to come back no matter the deficit.

After a second quarter run, the Knicks ended the locker room with a seven-point lead at halftime.

Brunson was a main reason why that was the case, going 5-of-11 from the field for 15 points with three assists and one rebound.

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New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama looks on during the second quarter of game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 8, 2026. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

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As for Wembanyama, he was an efficient 6-of-10 from the field for 15 points of his own, while hauling in four rebounds and dishing out three assists.

The Spurs are trying to avoid a brutal 3-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series, while the Knicks are hoping they can keep momentum in the second half to have the chance at a sweep in their own building on Wednesday night in Game 4.

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‘It would be a fun year.’ Rams all for Aaron Donald returning to pair with Myles Garrett

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‘It would be a fun year.’ Rams all for Aaron Donald returning to pair with Myles Garrett

Aaron Donald has made no public pronouncements that he will remain retired or return to play for the Rams.

But the three-time NFL defensive player of the year and future Hall of Famer remains a hot topic, and Rams players are aware of the buzz.

“When you have a guy that’s that serious about even considering coming out, it’s like, ‘OK, we might have a chance,’” safety Quentin Lake said Monday after the Rams completed an organized-team activity workout.

Chatter about Donald, 35, has been rampant since last week, when the Rams made another gigantic offseason move by trading for defensive end Myles Garrett.

The possibility of pairing Donald with Garrett — a two-time defensive player of the year — continues to intrigue both in and out of the Rams’ facility.

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Like Lake, defensive lineman Kobie Turner insistently cautioned that whatever Donald decides to do or not do was his former teammate’s prerogative.

But the possibilities…

“To just have two historic, if you will, defensive players on that line together,” Turner said of pairing Donald and Garrett, “and to have the rest of us who are trying to build up our reputations, and to build to that level of greatness that they’ve been able to garner, I think that would be cool for L.A.”

Said defensive coordinator Chris Shula: “Would love to have him back — with open arms.”

Shula enters his third season overseeing a defense remade by the March trade for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, the signing of cornerback Jaylen Watson and the trade for Garrett.

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With or without Donald, the Rams are regarded as a favorite to win Super Bowl LXI, which will be played in February at SoFi Stadium.

But the Rams are not hoisting the Lombardi Trophy just yet, Lake said.

“Some people say if he were to come back, just hand the Lombardi to us on a silver platter — but that’s never the case,” Lake said. “Is he a fantastic player? Yes.

“Are there so many things we could do in terms of pressures and blitzes and all that stuff? Of course. … It would be a fun year, I’ll say that.”

With quarterback Matthew Stafford — the NFL most valuable player — back to lead the offense, and McDuffie and Watson solving the team’s greatest weakness, the Rams already were regarded among the favorites to play in the Super Bowl for the first time since winning Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in 2022.

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Then general manager Les Snead engineered the deal for Garrett, sending edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick and future second- and third-round picks to the Cleveland Browns for a player who has 125 ½ sacks in nine seasons.

Lake, Turner and Shula lamented losing Verse — “a brother for life,” Turner said — but they have welcomed Garrett.

“You give a great player to get a great player,” Lake said, “and luckily, we’ve got arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. … We’re not asking Myles to do anything but just be himself.”

Last season, Garrett amassed an NFL season-record 23 sacks.

Rams defensive end Myles Garrett sits between Rams general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay, right, during a news conference on June 2.

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(Ric Tapia / For The Times)

“We’re going to let him do what he does best,” Shula said, “and we all know exactly what he does best.”

McDuffie and Watson were part of Kansas City Chiefs teams that played in three consecutive Super Bowls, winning titles in 2023 and 2024. Those teams featured dominating pass rusher Chris Jones, so McDuffie knows how a player such as Garrett enables the defense to “flip the script” and attack offenses.

“You just talk about mentality,” McDuffie said, “and a swag.”

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Donald, who has 111 sacks, would certainly add to that.

Not every player in their mid-30s could return and play at a high level after sitting out two seasons.

“I don’t think you do that if you’re a normal person,” Turner said, chuckling. “But A.D.’s not a normal person.”

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2025-26 NBA Finals MVP Odds: KAT Chasing Brunson Atop Board

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2025-26 NBA Finals MVP Odds: KAT Chasing Brunson Atop Board

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This year’s NBA Finals is a rematch of the last time the Knicks made it to the championship series, way back at the conclusion of the 1998-99 season. 

In that Finals, the Spurs defeated the Knicks in five games. Now, New York gets a shot to get its lick back, nearly 30 years later. 

Regardless, whichever team wins this series will need huge performances from its star players. 

Let’s check out the odds for NBA Finals MVP as of June 8 at FanDuel Sportsbook. 

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This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

2025-26 NBA Finals MVP

Jalen Brunson: +115 (bet $10 to win $21.50 total)
Karl-Anthony Towns: +165 (bet $10 to win $26.50 total)
Victor Wembanyama: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)

Before the Finals began, anyone not named Wembanyama or Brunson didn’t appear to have much of a chance at this award, at least according to the early odds. 

However, now that New York is up 2-0, its second star, Karl-Anthony Towns, has crashed the party.

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Towns has moved to second on the board after playing Wemby to a standstill through two games. In Game 2, KAT had 21 points (8-for-12 shooting), 13 rebounds and four assists. The Knicks won by one. 

Brunson put up 20 points in Game 2, but was 7-for-25 from the field. He also had four turnovers.

Wembanyama finished Game 1 with 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. In Game 2, he had 29 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. 

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