Illinois' defense, net efficiency of top seeds Michigan and Arizona stand out entering Final Four

Offense had stood out all season for Illinois, only for the defense to step up inMarch Madness.

APTOPIX NCAA Purdue Arizona Basketball

Arizona and Michigan have been part of college basketball's top tier all year with elite play at both ends of the court, and they've been even sharper at the offensive end in the NCAA Tournament.

Now that trio joins UConnfor this week's Final Fourin Indianapolis. The Huskies and Illini meet in Saturday's first semifinal, followed by the Wolverines and Wildcats.

All four teams rank in the overall top 10 of data-driven college basketball rankings forKenPom,Evan MiyakawaandBart Torvikgoing into the Final Four. That includes the Wolverines and Wildcats ranking 1-2 for all three currently, as well as posting some of KenPom's best net-efficiency rankings ever recorded.

Illini's defense

Illinois (28-8) entered the NCAA tourney ranked second in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency by averaging 131.2 points per 100 possessions while ranking just 28th in defense (99.1). Yet the South Region champion's defense has allowed .976 points per possession in the NCAA Tournament to lead the remaining four teams.

"We've been very good throughout the season at times," coach Brad Underwood said before theregional final win against Iowa. "We just haven't been that consistent."

Illinois allowedPenn,VCU,Houstonand Iowa to score on just 41.2% of their possessions.The Illini also dominated the glass(plus-16.3 per game) to grab the rebounds that completed those defensive stops.

They've done it all with the nation's tallest roster, with seven players from Saturday's eight-man rotation standing 6-foot-6 or taller. That has includedan influx of European talent, including Croatian twins Tomislav (7-1) and Zvonimir Ivisic (7-2), as well as 6-9 forward David Mirkovic from Montenegro. The outlier among that big lineup, 6-2 senior guard Kylan Boswell, is a strong backcourt defender.

UConn (33-5), meanwhile, has scored on 52.2% of its possessions going back to the second-round win against UCLA, with a high of 54%in Sunday's comeback from 19 down to shock top overall tournament seed Duke.

Terrence Oglesby, an analyst with ESPN and Field of 68, pointed to the Illini's ability to play in the gaps to disrupt offenses trying to move the ball and space the floor to create mismatches or lanes.

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"Positionally, they're just elite on top of being massive," said Oglesby, a former Clemson player. "You go to the Balkans to grab all these guys, and they're huge and they've also been well coached coming all the way up. ... The good part about being pretty gap-heavy is the fact that if you're huge, you can still get out to shooters."

Offensive flow

Michigan (35-3) has the most efficient offense of the Final Four teams, averaging 1.361 points per possession in tournament wins overHoward,Saint Louis,AlabamaandTennesseeto edge Arizona's similar average (1.341).

The Midwest Region champion became the first team to score 90 points in every game through to the Elite Eight since UConn did it in 1995 before falling 102-96 to eventual champion UCLA. Dusty May's Wolverines are shooting 55.9% through four games, including 44.6% (45 of 101) from 3-point range, and have scored on 60.4% of their tournament possessions.

Before the Sweet 16 win against Alabama, guard Roddy Gayle Jr. said May's system allows the Wolverines to play "super free."

"He does a lot of free-flow offense," star Yaxel Lendeborg said. "He has certain sets, but the sets aren't necessarily for shots. It's just for movement, just to get the defense out of their shell, and then attack off those mistakes."

Net efficiency

The Wolverines' semifinal against fellow 1-seed Arizona (36-2) will pair teams with all-time great KenPom efficiency metrics.

KenPom bases efficiency on points scored or allowed over a standardized 100-possession pace to eliminate tempo as a factor. Overall rankings are determined by net efficiency in terms of how much a team's offensive data outpaces its defensive numbers.

Michigan currently leads the country at plus-39.02 after the regionals, followed by Arizona at plus-38.76. By comparison, only two teams have finished a season with higher KenPom numbers going back to the 1996-97 season: Duke in 1998-99 (plus-43.01) and Duke last year (plus-39.29).

"These are these massive teams that also have enough shooting. but they've leaned into the everything else," Oglesby said. "They've leaned into the controllable aspects: rebounding, being big, being physical. ... I wouldn't say that the championship game is Michigan and Arizona, but those two teams have just been a freight train going through."

Neither of those high-efficiency Duke teams managed to cut down the nets. The firstlost to UConn in the title gameand the secondfell a year ago to Houstonin a late collapse in the national semifinals.

What's ahead

The season's final three games will pair strength-on-strength in the halfcourt.The four teams have played man defense on 97.3% of their combined halfcourt possessions, according to Synergy. Arizona, Michigan and UConn all rated as "excellent" in the 91st percentile or better, while Illinois is rated "very good" in the 81st percentile.Yet Synergy rates all of those teams as "excellent" in running halfcourt offense against man defense, with Illinois (97th percentile) and Michigan (96th) as the best.The key for Saturday could be which teams can get out in transition to avoid tussling with set halfcourt defenses. That could favor Illinois (97th percentile) and Arizona (94th) as the top teams in transition offense with "excellent" ratings from Synergy.___AP March Madness bracket:https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracketand coverage:https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

The season's final three games will pair strength-on-strength in the halfcourt.

The four teams have played man defense on 97.3% of their combined halfcourt possessions, according to Synergy. Arizona, Michigan and UConn all rated as "excellent" in the 91st percentile or better, while Illinois is rated "very good" in the 81st percentile.

Yet Synergy rates all of those teams as "excellent" in running halfcourt offense against man defense, with Illinois (97th percentile) and Michigan (96th) as the best.

The key for Saturday could be which teams can get out in transition to avoid tussling with set halfcourt defenses. That could favor Illinois (97th percentile) and Arizona (94th) as the top teams in transition offense with "excellent" ratings from Synergy.

AP March Madness bracket:https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracketand coverage:https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

byAlex Forten

in

March 30, 2026

Illinois' defense, net efficiency of top seeds Michigan and Arizona stand out entering Final Four

Offense had stood out all season for Illinois, only for the defense to step up inMarch Madness. APTOPIX NCA...

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Options vary for veteran QBs Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson

PHOENIX (AP) — Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson are still unsigned for the 2026 season.

Options vary for the four accomplished veteran quarterbacks.

The 42-year-old Rodgers can return to Pittsburgh and play for new coach Mike McCarthy if he doesn't choose to retire. Steelers owner Art Rooney II told reporters Sunday he expects a decision from the four-time NFL MVP before the NFL draft next month.

Cousins finished last season strong, leading Atlanta to four straight wins down the stretch but the Falcons still missed the playoffs and coach Raheem Morris lost his job. The 37-year-old Cousins threw for 876 yards in those four games with seven touchdowns, two interceptions and had a 93.6 passer rating. Overall, he was 5-3 as a starter after opening the season backing up Michael Penix Jr.

The Falcons hired coach Kevin Stefanski, signed Tua Tagovailoa and released Cousins, who will likely have to settle for a backup role somewhere unless another starter is injured in the offseason. He could end up in Pittsburgh if Rodgers retires and the Steelers want to turn to another veteran QB after going from Wilson in 2024 to Rodgers in 2025.

Stefanski said Tagovailoa and Penix will compete for the starting job in Atlanta. Penix, a first-round pick in 2024, is coming off surgery last November to repair a torn ACL and it's uncertain when he'll be ready to go.

"He has had great success in this league when doing a lot of things that we believe in," Stefanski said of Tagovailoa. "He's looking for an opportunity and we can provide that."

Garoppolo has an opportunity to go back to Los Angeles for a third season to play behind NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. If not, Cousins would be an option for the Rams and coach Sean McVay. They were together in Washington when McVay was the offensive coordinator.

Wilson began last season starting for the Giants and finished behind rookie Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston. The 10-time Pro Bowl pick also is out of starting options and doesn't appear to be drawing much interest as a backup even though he was supportive of Dart in that role last season.

A.J. Brown's future

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said "nothing's changed" regarding Brown, the three-time Pro Bowl receiver who has been involved in trade speculation.

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"A.J. is an Eagle," Sirianni said.

The Eagles have listened to offers for the veteran and also signed veteran wideouts Marquise "Hollywood" Brown and Elijah Moore, who was Brown's roommate at Mississippi. Miami's trade of Jaylen Waddle to Denver for a first-round pick along with a third and fourth raised the bar for A.J. Brown's market value.

Switch for Lions' Penei Sewell

Lions coach Dan Campbell said three-time All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell is ready to switch over to the left side to protect Jared Goff's blind side.

The Lions need to replace Taylor Decker, who was released. Sewell played left tackle at Oregon before Detroit selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft.

Proposal withdrawn

The Browns withdrew their proposal that would allow teams to trade draft picks five years into the future instead of three, a person with knowledge of the decision told the AP. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Cleveland's decision wasn't announced.

Owners will be voting on other proposals by the NFL competition committee and a proposal from the Steelers about contacting players during the free agent negotiating period.

Any changes need to be approved by at least 24 of the 32 teams.

Josh Allen's recovery

Bills quarterback Josh Allen is no longer wearing a protective boot on his right foot after breaking a bone in it during a game in Week 16. The 2024 NFL MVP had surgery after Buffalo lost to Denver in overtime in the AFC divisional playoffs.

"His foot, I don't want to say it's 100 percent, but he's good," Bills general manager Brandon Beane told reporters on Monday. "When he gets back in April, we expect him to be full-go."

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

byAlex Forten

in

March 30, 2026

Options vary for veteran QBs Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson

PHOENIX (AP) — Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson are still unsigned for the 2026 season. ...

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The NFL’s Rooney Rule has long been a topic of conversation, even debate. What does it do?

The NFL's Rooney Rule has long been a topic of conversation, even debate.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is among the most recent to weigh in. He sent a letter toNFLCommissioner Roger Goodell threatening possible enforcement actions if the league doesn't suspend the rule, which was established in 2003 in hopes of encouraging teams to hire more minority coaches.

Uthmeier believes the rule violates Florida law by requiring race-based considerations in hiring.

Uthmeier asked the league to confirm "no later than May 1" that it would no longer enforce the Rooney Rule for its Florida franchises — the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Uthmeier said failing to suspend the Rooney Rule may result in enforcement actions against the league for race-based discrimination.

The Rooney Rule has been expanded several times over the years and now extends to searches for general managers, coordinators and quarterback coaches.

Critics argue it has led to too many token interviews, designed to check off a box rather than providing a real shot at a job.

That is one of the elements in the 2022 lawsuit filed by former Dolphins head coach — now Vikings defensive coordinator —Brian Flores, who accused the NFL and three teams of racist hiring practices.

What is the origin of the Rooney Rule?

The rule was named after late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who was head of the league's Workplace Diversity Committee at the time, and requires teams to interview at least two external diverse candidates (minority or female) for head coach and general manager vacancies, and at least one for senior positions.

It was designed to increase diversity in leadership by requiring in-person interviews, but it has faced criticism over the years for failing to significantly boost minority hiring.

The Workplace Diversity Committee's initial focus was on the historically low number of minorities in head coaching positions. The policy originally required every team with a head coaching vacancy to interview at least one diverse candidate before making a new hire.

Over the years, the Rooney Rule has expanded to include a greater number of positions across NFL clubs.

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Are women included in the Rooney Rule?

Yes. In 2022, the league expanded the Rooney Rule to include women as a part of the minority candidate definition.

NFL teams can include women as minority candidates for vacancies involving head coach, general manager, coordinators, QBs coach and senior personnel.

Does the NFL reward teams for developing minorities?

Yes. In November 2020, owners approved a proposal rewarding teams who developed minority talent who went on to become general managers or head coaches across the league.

If a team loses a minority executive or coach to another team, that team receives a third-round compensatory pick for two years. If a team loses both a coach and a personnel member, it receives a third-round compensatory pick for three years.

What are the penalties for violating the Rooney Rule?

The NFL can fine teams in excess of $500,000 for violating the rule. It also can take away draft picks or invalidate a hire.

However, the only punishment on record came in 2023 when Detroit was fined $200,000 for hiring Steve Mariucci before interviewing a minority candidate.

Has the Rooney Rule worked?

The 2006 season was considered a huge breakthrough. There were seven Black head coaches that year, and two of them met in the Super Bowl for the first time ever.

When Tony Dungy's Indianapolis Colts defeated Lovie Smith's Chicago Bears in the title game, minority coaches appeared to be the biggest winners. No one could deny Black coaches could do the job as well as their white counterparts.

The number of minority head coaches reached an all-time high in 2024 with nine, a list that included six Black head coaches.

But that number dwindled to five ahead of the 2026 season.

Eleven teams, roughly a third of the league, have never had a Black non-interim coach. The list includes Baltimore, Buffalo, Carolina, Dallas, Jacksonville, the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans, the New York Giants, Seattle, Tennessee and Washington. Three of those teams have had minority coaches: the Panthers (Dave Canales), the Titans (Robert Saleh) and the Commanders (Ron Rivera).

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

byAlex Forten

in

March 30, 2026

The NFL’s Rooney Rule has long been a topic of conversation, even debate. What does it do?

The NFL's Rooney Rule has long been a topic of conversation, even debate. Florida Attorney General James U...

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LeAnn Rimes breaks down while undergoing 'deep jaw release' in emotionally raw video: 'Oh, my god'

LeAnn Rimesis healing following an intense procedure to relieve tension in her jaw.

Inan intimate Instagram videoposted by fascial maneuver providerHuman Garageon Sunday, Rimes, 43, undergoes a "deep jaw release" technique with co-founder, Garry Lineham.

After Lineham puts his hands in her mouth to realign her jaw — as a fellow practitioner holds her head still — Rimes immediately lets out sobs of relief. She holds her face and says, "Oh, my god" a few times before Lineham instructs her, "Say 'that part of my life is over.'"

The "Blue" singerresponds, "That part of my life better be over."

She adds, "Oh, my god. You just don't realize how much tension is in there," before Lineham chimes in, "Until it's gone."

In the caption of their video post, Human Garage shared that "healing isn't always quiet. Sometimes it's a physical letting go of things we didn't even know we were carrying."

"In this powerful session, @garrylineham works with @leannrimes on a deep Jaw Release," the note continued. "You can see the exact moment the tension breaks and the emotional weight lifts, leaving her feeling visibly lighter and more aligned."

The self-care provider claimed that "the jaw is one of the body's primary storage sites for stress" and that when we hold it all in "the fascia in the face and neck 'locks' to protect us."

"By using the maneuvers to signal safety to the nervous system, we can finally allow that stored energy to move," Human Garage wrote.

Rimes shared more of her journey with fascia tension in a March 23 post onInstagram.

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"For as long as I can remember, my body has held tension like it's been bracing for something. My jaw, my neck, my shoulders... especially the TMJ (temporomandibular joint). It's never really let go. And as someone whose voice is literally my instrument, that kind of tightness doesn't just live in my body; it shows up in how I breathe, how I express, how freely I can sing."

Rimes said she has tried to take care of herself by focusing on "nutrition, hormones, nervous system work, therapy, [and] supplements," but none of those "healing paths" worked until she discovered fascia research.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

"On the other side of it, I'm experiencing a level of freedom and openness in my body that I haven't felt in a long time," she added of the jaw release.

The9-1-1: Nashvillestar explained that fascia "responds to our lived experience, to the moments we didn't fully process, to the times we had to hold it together instead of letting something move through."

This isn't the only health scare Rimes has faced in recent months. After her false teeth fell out mid-performance last year, she combatted "micro-toxins" in her body byundergoing a "plasma exchange"in January.

"Listening to my body and choosing what feels supportive for this season of healing, especially after a very busy year of filming and touring," Rimes captioned anInstagram videoat the time. "I demand so much from my body and it's incredibly important to me to take the best care of it I possibly can."

The country singer explained that this was her second time getting the treatment, which helps "clear micro-toxins, such as mold and microplastics," adding that she's also "added stem cells to encourage overall repair."

Rimes is currently on her "30 Years of Blue" tour through July.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAlex Forten

in

March 30, 2026

LeAnn Rimes breaks down while undergoing 'deep jaw release' in emotionally raw video: 'Oh, my god'

LeAnn Rimesis healing following an intense procedure to relieve tension in her jaw. Inan intimate Instagram vi...

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Queen Elizabeth Wasn't with Prince Philip When He Died, New Book Claims: 'Left Without Saying Goodbye'

A new biography about Queen Elizabeth and the royal family reveals that Prince Philip had inoperable pancreatic cancer for the final years of his life

NEED TO KNOW

• The Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9, 2021

• Royal biographer Hugo Vickers writes that the Queen didn't see Philip before he died, and that she was upset that her husband "left without saying goodbye"

A new biography about the lateQueen Elizabethand the royal family is revealing candid details about her final years with her husband,Prince Philip.

In his upcoming book,Queen Elizabeth II, coming out in April, royal biographer Hugo Vickers deep-dives into the late monarch's life with recollections from rare insiders and decades of observations.

Vickers reveals in the book that the Duke of Edinburgh wasdiagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancerin 2013. Multiple heart procedures also affected Philip's health throughout his final years, leading to his stepping back from his royal duties in August 2017.

Following his final public engagement, Vickers wrote, "the Queen let the Duke do exactly as he pleased. He was at his happiest at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate."

Prince Philip moved to Wood Farm by himself, with Vickers claiming that he was frequently joined there by his longtime friend and confidante,Penny Mountbatten, also known as Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma.

"He enjoyed his carriage-driving, read voraciously and painted a little," he wrote. "From time to time, the Queen went up by train to Norfolk to stay the weekend. Once again, she gave him a loose rein. In a sense, they had separated."

AsCOVID-19 lockdownswent into effect in 2020, the Queen left Buckingham Palace for Windsor Castle and summoned Philip from Wood Farm. They were "moved into four rooms in the castle, looked after by a 'skeleton' staff, 22 in total," Vickers wrote. "They entered a strict isolation, jokingly nicknamed HMS Bubble, by the Master of the Household, Tony Johnstone-Burt. Nobody was allowed to enter the Upper Ward of the castle, and there were no ladies-in-waiting in attendance."

To be safe, the couple remained in isolation forChristmas that year, staying at Windsor while other members of the royal family celebrated at Sandringham, per tradition. Meaningfully, during her annual Christmas address to the nation, the Queendisplayed just one family photoon her desk: a shot of Prince Philip in a simple oval frame.

The start of 2021 saw the Duke of Edinburgh in and out of the hospital, and he nearly died during heart surgery in March. The deterioration of his short-term memory was also becoming more obvious to those around him.

"He did not want to reach his 100th birthday [on June 10], particularly disliking the fuss attendant at such events," Vickers wrote.

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On thelast night of his life, the biographer says the 99-year-old royal "gave his nurses the slip, shuffled along the corridor on his Zimmer frame, helped himself to a beer and drank it in the Oak Room. The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well and quietly slipped away."

The Queen did not see him before he died, Vickers claimed. "She took the line, I was told, that she was 'absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye.' "

While the circumstances of his death were isolated due to the pandemic, the lockdown did grant Prince Philip one posthumous blessing: "Due to Covid rules, the number of mourners at Philip's funeral was restricted to 30. Nothing would have delighted the Duke more than having such a pared-down farewell."

There, Queen Elizabethsat aloneand masked in St. George's Chapel for the funeral service.

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The Queen never spent another night at Buckingham Palace. In 2022, her bed was sent to Windsor following a subdued summer at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. This is when, Vickers predicts, she was diagnosed withthe bone cancer.

The royal biographer wrote that Queen Elizabeth and her old friend Prue Penn spoke candidly about death, with the monarch remarking, "I feel as if I'm in the departure lounge."

She correctly guessed that she, like her husband, would also not make it to 100 years old. She died on Sept. 8, 2022, at the age of 96, after reigning for over 70 years.

The nation mourned the longest-reigning British monarch, but the Queen seemed to resent the forthcoming spectacle in her conversations with Penn. Of dying, she told her friend, "At least you don't have to do it as publicly as me."

Read the original article onPeople

byAlex Forten

in

March 30, 2026

Queen Elizabeth Wasn't with Prince Philip When He Died, New Book Claims: 'Left Without Saying Goodbye'

A new biography about Queen Elizabeth and the royal family reveals that Prince Philip had inoperable pancreatic cancer...

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DJ Dan, a West Coast House Sound Pioneer, Dead at 57

DJ Dan, a producer and pioneer for the West Coast House Sound, has died

NEED TO KNOW

• The DJ's death was announced on his social medias

• His last single release was on Feb. 20

DJ Dan, who was known as the Pioneer of the West Coast House Sound, has died at age 57.

The DJ's death was announced on his social media pages on Sunday, March 29. A cause of death has not been revealed.

"He leaves behind not just a discography, but a culture — a way of feeling music that touched millions of souls across four decades and five continents. He often said he felt his purpose in life was 'to heal through music,'" theannouncement on Instagramstated, alongside a series of photos.

According to the announcement, DJ Dan (born Daniel Wherrett), co-founded Funky Tekno Tribe, which was a "collective that would reshape the West Coast dance scene from the ground up."

The West Coast House sound, per the announcement, is a "psychedelic fusion of House, Breakbeat dubs, and Techno unlike anything heard before."

"Those who knew Dan personally knew a man who saw music in colors. Disco was orange; techno was blue and brown; progressive sounds were a cool, deep blue," the post read. "He described his DJ sets as 'peaks and valleys of energy through color' — and that synesthetic vision translated into something audiences felt in their bodies long before they understood it with their minds. He credited his inspiration to James Brown, his parents, and 'all the underdogs who fought their way to success in life.'"

The announcement also described his life outside of music, which included cooking, traveling and collecting records. He was also passionate about food and art.

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A rep for DJ Dan did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

DJ Dan was born and raised in Lacey, Washington and started out as a fashion student — before discovering his love for electronic music, according to a release byAPT Entertainment. In the early '90s, he moved to Los Angeles and released a series of mixtapes and live mixes that helped him gain recognition as a DJ.

Over the course of his career, he headlined festivals like Ultra, EDC, Creamfields, Dance Valley and more. He also remixed artists from a wide range of genres including Depeche Mode, A Tribe Called Quest,Lady Gaga,Janet Jacksonand more.

In addition to creating music, DJ Dan — whoadvertised and played a series of showsleading up to his death — also founded the L.A. label InStereo Recordings.

DJ Dan's final release was a collaboration with DJ Mes called "Rough It Style" in February. His last full-length project was 2024'sTekkMeow.

"Dan once wrote 'Enjoy every day to its fullest no matter what BS or Drama the world throws at ya... We only get one 'go' on this carnival ride... what's after... who knows?'" his death announcement concluded.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlex Forten

in

March 30, 2026

DJ Dan, a West Coast House Sound Pioneer, Dead at 57

DJ Dan, a producer and pioneer for the West Coast House Sound, has died NEED TO KNOW The DJ's death was an...

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Student shoots a teacher at Texas high school before fatally shooting self, authorities say

A 15-year-old student shot a teacher at a Texas high school and then fatally shot himself Monday, according to authorities, who were still investigating what led to the early morning attack.

No other injuries were reported at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Bulverde, a small but growing city near San Antonio.

The teacher was taken to a nearby hospital. Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds said hours after the shooting that he did not know her condition.

"What happened today is something no community ever wants to face, but we prepare for something that we hope never occurs," Reynolds said.

He said the student shot the teacher before turning the gun on himself. Reynolds said investigators were working to understand the relationship between the student and the teacher and looking into how the firearm was obtained.

The small campus of roughly 250 students was placed on lockdown shortly after 8:30 a.m., according to the school. One student told San Antonio television stationKSATthat they heard loud bangs coming from a room on the second floor and then heard screaming.

Another student told the TV station that she heard five shots and yelling before her debate teacher told students to get inside a classroom.

Students were bused to a nearby middle school, where parents stood in long lines, some praying, as they waited to be reunited. Reynolds said the family members of the shooter had also gone into in the reunification line.

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"We're trying to collect as much information as we can from witnesses," Reynolds said.

Jesse Lopez, a parent, told KSAT that it will be difficult to tell his daughter that she has to eventually go back to class.

"For one, she has autism, and she'll be afraid to go back, she'll be real afraid to go back," Lopez said.

The school canceled classes for Tuesday but counselors would still be made available for students and families, principal Julie Wiley said in a statement. She did not provide details about the teacher's condition.

"Our hearts are with everyone impacted, especially that teacher, their family, and our school community," Wiley said. "We know this has been a difficult day."

The high school, which is part of the Comal Independent School District, focuses on academics and skills to prepare students for college, according to the district's website. Its curriculum is centered on science, technology, engineering, arts and math, known as STEAM, with electives that include cybersecurity and engineering.

The school opened in August 2020 with a freshman class. It has since grown to offer grades nine through 12.

Associated Press reporter Heather Hollingsworth contributed to this report from Kansas City, Missouri.

byAlex Forten

in

March 30, 2026

Student shoots a teacher at Texas high school before fatally shooting self, authorities say

A 15-year-old student shot a teacher at a Texas high school and then fatally shot himself Monday, according to authoritie...

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