The University of Illinois can claim influence over most state high schools. The News-Gazette's coverage area includes many of these options.
Among those is Danville, which seems to be a particular hot spot for Class of 2018 athletes seeking next-level competition.
When runner Phillip Hall committed to the Illini last week, he joined an ever-growing group of local stars who will hit the Champaign-Urbana campus later this year to start their college academic and athletic careers.
Hall is now one of four Vikings who will be an Illini in the not-so-distant future. He'll be joined by fellow runner Shanice Garbutt, as well as Julian Pearl and Caleb Griffin on the football field.