Darren Sunkett has been the head coach of East St. Louis High School since 2001. He has built this program into one of the Midwest’s most talented and respected teams. The Flyers were one game away from winning their 11th State Championship last season. Sunkett’s teams won in 2008, 2016, 2019, and 2022 but lost a close game to Cary Grove in the 6A finals 23-20 last season. Cary Grove also beat them in the 2021 state finals by one point (37-36).
East St. Louis finished the 2023 season with an 11-3 overall record. They dominated all their opponents in the playoffs, leading up to the championship game. They had a big non-conference win against St. Frances Academy (MD) and beat Edwardsville in their last regular-season game. They had four shutouts in other regular-season games.
Sunkett’s program has had an impressive stretch since 2016. During this timeframe, the Flyers were 76-13. They are a program that will play anybody and go anywhere to compete.
Offense
The Flyers are known for punishing opposing teams with their big offensive line, running the football and having superior skilled athletes making plays. The offense averaged just under 40 points per game last season.
Robert Battle, a 4-year starting quarterback, graduated after throwing for 2,173 yards (61.8%) and 26 touchdowns. He also rushed for 786 yards and 9 touchdowns. Battle signed with Lindenwood University. Jesse Watson (Purdue), Rico Bond (Lindenwood), and John Daily were all senior wide receivers last year who accounted for 1,389 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns.
The Flyers’ 2024 offense has some exciting players returning, led by Larevious Woods, TaRyan Martin, and Chris “CJ” Bennett. Woods is a 2025 running back who rushed for 982 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior. Martin is another senior running back who had 496 yards and 12 touchdowns. Martin is committed to Kent State University. Woods and Martin will form one of the best running back duos in the Midwest. Bennett was the Flyers leading receiver last season, catching 46 balls for 732 yards (15.9/avg) and 7 touchdowns.
Offensively, the Flyers have an abundance of young Division 1 prospects in the 2027 recruiting class who will help this season. Ahmad Coleman (5’9”, 188) and Amir Tillman are two ultra-talented running backs. Royce Searcy, Laron Baker, and Ronnie Gomiller (5’10”, 175) are receivers who performed well at college camps this summer. All five 2027 players have earned early MAC offers. Kortez Rupert (6’1”, 155) is a 2026 receiver who will also be in the rotation.
At Tight End, East St. Louis has Collin Griffin. The 6’3”, 215-pound senior added a couple of Division 1 AA offers this summer. The Flyers also picked up Armaad Sharpe (6’3”, 215) from Cardinal Ritter in Missouri. Sharpe is a big receiver who had a great junior season and has the versatility to play tight end.
On the offensive line, Terrell Berryhill (6’6”, 250) and Mytrell Tillman (6’3”, 280) are a pair of 2026 linemen who will lead the way up front. Both have early offers from Miami (OH), Kent State, and Eastern Michigan. Shannon Hamilton (6’2”, 280) is a senior interior lineman who started as a junior. Blake Brown, a transfer from Hazelwood Central High School in Missouri, is the best addition to this team. Brown is a 6’3”, 300-pound offensive tackle who is a nasty run blocker and a trusted pass protector. He is a talented veteran who will bring some juice to this offense.
With Battle gone, two quarterbacks will compete for the starting job: Senior Kendrick Lyons (6’0”, 175) and sophomore Reese Shanklin (6’1”, 175). Lyons throws a nice ball, and he had a great offseason. Shanklin played some as a freshman. The coaching staff will decide who QB1 will be in training camp.
Defense
The Flyers’ fast, hard-hitting defense allowed only 13.46 points per game in 2023. The team graduated Leontre Bradford (Purdue), Taylor Powell (Northern Illinois), and Jaion Jackson (Central Michigan), all three of whom played in the secondary.
East St. Louis’ linebackers are arguably the team’s most talented position group, led by Leon Howard Jr. and Keyland LaGrant (6’3”, 211). At 6’3” 225 pounds, Howard recorded 86 tackles and five sacks as a sophomore. He earned early scholarship offers this offseason from UNLV, Kent State, and Miami (OH). LaGrant is another tall, explosive player who had 69 tackles and two interceptions as a junior. His stock is rising, and his offer list growing. He has Arkansas, West Virginia, Indiana, and Boston College, to name a few. Mehki Mixon (6’0”, 195) and Elmo Gilliam (5’11”, 200) are two key veteran linebackers returning. Mixon had 69 tackles and one sack last season. Gilliam had 48 tackles and 3 sacks.
As the top blue-chip prospect on the Flyer’s roster, Charles Bass (6’2”, 190) will be one of the most sought-after recruits in the Midwest as we get closer to National Signing Day. The senior safety had a stellar junior season with 74 tackles. Bass has a couple dozen offers and is being recruited hard by Oregon, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Auburn, Michigan, and several other Power 4 colleges.
Despite losing three Division 1 defensive backs from last year’s team, the Flyers are loaded with talent. Raheem Floyd (6’1”, 165) is a 2027 prospect with a MAC offer. Quentin Kirby (5’11”, 180) tallied 75 tackles and 3 interceptions as a junior. Quincy Minor (6’1”, 170) is a senior defensive back projected to start.
On the defensive line, Cornell McIntosh (6’3”, 230), Keandre McClendon (6’2”, 245), and Caleb Brown (6’1”, 240) all return. McClendon led the team with 90 tackles and five sacks. He has a few D1AA offers before the season starts. McIntosh is a 2026 recruit with 46 tackles as a sophomore and two MAC offers. Brown is a 2027 prospect with a lot of upside. We also expect defensive end Caleb Morrow (6’3”, 220) to have a big sophomore season.
2024 Schedule
It is easily safe to say East St. Louis plays the toughest non-conference schedule of any high school team in the Midwest. Week 1 is a non-conference in-state showdown with the two-time 8A State Champs, Loyola Academy. In weeks two and three, the Flyers will play two out-of-state powerhouses: Imhotep Charter from Philadelphia and Newton High School in Georgia. Imhotep Charter was the Pennsylvania 5A State Champions in 2023. Their final regular season game is against IMG Academy from Florida. IMG has been a Top 5 team in the country over the last decade. The challenging non-conference schedule prepares them for a strong run in the playoffs.
