Recruiting Profiles

10-Apr-2008
Spring Signing Week '08: Northwestern Recruit Sicora Owes It All To Summer School
For most kids, the memories of going to summer school are enough to make one cringe. While all of your friends are enjoying their summer break sleeping in or playing outside, you are forced to wake at the crack of dawn and go to school. For Michael Sicora, of Buffalo, Minn., his memories of summer school are a little different, as it literally changed his life. It was there, he took his first tennis class, and as he says now, "the rest is history, I guess."

9-Apr-2008
Spring Signing Week '08: Rice Lands Tachibana
It was between Princeton, Harvard and Rice, but according to 17-year-old Texan Isamu Tachibana, it wasn't the proximity to home that led him to ultimately choose Rice over the Ivys.

9-Apr-2008
Spring Signing Week '08: Sianna Simmons Decides
Signing Day continues with a commitment announcement from 5-Star senior Sianna Simmons (Atlanta, GA). Simmons, one of the top remaining recruits in the country, chooses the Arizona State Sun Devils over a host of other schools.

8-Apr-2008
Spring Signing Week '08: Klores an Aggie
Growing up in the tiny east Texas town of Franklin, just 30 minutes from Texas A&M University, Austin Klores was always an Aggie at heart. As a rising Texas junior player, he watched countless Aggie tennis matches at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center. Those matches had burned a deep impression in the teenager's brain, and so Klores signed a national letter of intent to play for A&M next August.

7-Apr-2008
Spring Signing Week '08: Kargl Chooses the Tribe
For five-star recruit Katie Kargl, team spirit and school size mattered most. When she visited The College of William and Mary, however, she found a group of women in a small school setting who played topnotch tennis, who hit the books just as hard, and who enjoyed each other as friends off court, very much like Kargl herself.

4-Apr-2008
Countdown: Zach Nicholson Full Speed Ahead
Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the US Naval Academy consistently offers one of the finest four-year educations available and the experience of a lifetime. The rich history and tradition of the institution led to a commitment from Zachary Nicholson (Bowie, MD).

3-Apr-2008
Countdown: Wolf Decides Among Ivy Powers
Like any college-bound athlete in their final semester of school and final months of junior sport, Emily Wolf appears to be an excited, positive, somewhat relaxed, somewhat nervous teenager ready to embark on her long sought-after goal of playing for an Ivy League college tennis team. "After going on my recruiting trips and narrowing my choices down, Penn seemed like the best fit for me."

2-Apr-2008
Countdown: Pine Brothers Stick Together
Charles Pine could see the logistical nightmares coming. With twin sons who are NCAA Division I-caliber players, he wondered what would happen if they attended different universities. But he won't have to worry about that. Jonathan and Zachary Pine of Vienna, Va. elected to stay in-state and attend Virginia Tech.

1-Apr-2008
Countdown: Herzberg Heads for the Bears
Five-star recruit Cassandra Herzberg is a young woman who is not afraid to leave her comfort zones. Herzberg, a sun-spoiled Florida native, is going to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where temperatures hover in the 40s on a nice winter day.

27-Mar-2008
Countdown: Five-Star Turpin Heads to College Station
Ashley Turpin was born into a storied Texas tennis family, the granddaughter and daughter of top college players. Now, the gutsy 17-year-old is poised to write her own college tennis chapter - at Texas A&M University. After signing a letter of intent last fall to play for the Aggies, the five-star recruit from New Braunfels, Tex., now bubbles with excitement when she talks about joining the squad at College Station next August.

27-Mar-2008
Top Prospect: Ryan Lipman
Ryan Lipman's one-handed backhand, creative spins, crisp volleys, and his favorite surface - grass - recall a bygone era in tennis. Add the plethora of sportsmanship awards Lipman has garnered during his junior career, and it's little wonder the blue-chipper is high on the list of many of the nation's top Division 1 schools.

26-Mar-2008
Countdown: Clausen Stays In-State
Neil Clausen plays the piano and loves chess. He's a voracious reader and an outstanding student. And, he also happens to be a five-star tennis recruit. Rollins College may have struck gold with this multi-talented teen-ager.

25-Mar-2008
Countdown: Ramos A Trojan for Another Four Years
Joining Coach Richard Gallien's Women of Troy this fall will be Alison Ramos. Ramos, of course, attended Troy High School in Fullerton, California. With this sort of coincidence did any other school really stand a chance?

28-Feb-2008
An Interview with World's Top Junior Ricardas Berankis
Ricardas Berankis had a memorable 2007, capturing the U.S. Open Junior championship, training with Roger Federer, playing Davis Cup, signing with IMG and winning the season's last two ITF junior tournaments to finish the year as World Junior Champion. Colette Lewis of ZooTennis.com got the chance to sit down with Berankis last month in Miami.

22-Feb-2008
Gators Add Another Alexander
It's only February, but junior Jessica Alexander has already made up her mind to join older sister Megan at the University of Florida. And by joining the Gators early, the five-star recruit from Dallas will have an opportunity to play two spring seasons alongside Megan, a sophomore.

24-Jan-2008
Top Prospect: Jarmere Jenkins
Jarmere Jenkins grew up learning from his four older tennis-playing brothers, taking the best parts of their games as motivation to improve his own. Jenkins melded their qualities into a game that has made him one of the top juniors nationally and internationally. Colette Lewis talked with Jenkins about his future plans.

3-Jan-2008
Gators Get Cohen
Head Coach Roland Thornqvist and the Florida Gators are ringing in the New Year with extra enthusiasm now that Julia Cohen, one of the world's top juniors, has joined the team for the 2008 dual season.

20-Dec-2007
Oudin Soars to No. 4 in the World after Stellar Autumn
Back in September, Melanie Oudin needed a wild card to participate in the main draw of the U.S. Open Junior Championships. Three months later the 16-year-old from Marietta, Ga. occupies the No. 4 spot in the ITF World Junior rankings, having reeled off 27 straight junior victories. Colette Lewis talks with Oudin about her recent surge.

10-Dec-2007
Caledonia Heads for the Ocean
When four-star recruit Nicholas (Nick) Caledonia arranged an official visit to the University of California-Santa Barbara last month, Coach Marty Davis made an unusual request: "Bring your wet suit." After a visit that included surfing in the Pacific, Caledonia made a verbal commitment to play for the Gauchos.

29-Nov-2007
Top Prospect: Jessica Alexander
Five star recruit Jessica Alexander's life has included tennis since she was four years old, and when the 16-year-old Texan considers her future, she doesn't see that changing much.

16-Nov-2007
Signing Week: Mather is off to Gainesville
We wrap up our Signing Week commitment announcements with Blue Chip senior Joanna Mather (Duluth, Ga.). Today, Mather announces her choice from among five southeastern schools: Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, and Florida State.

16-Nov-2007
Signing Week: Boyajian Chooses North Carolina Blue
Florida's Brennan Boyajian knew he would have a wide range of options when it came to selecting a college. The senior took five unofficial visits during the summer, so when he decided late last month to sign with the University of North Carolina, he knew he'd done his homework.

15-Nov-2007
Signing Week: Wildcat Quigley
The top recruit in the state of Kentucky is Eric Quigley (Pewee Valley, Kentucky). Quigley, a perennial Top 10 player, is a fan of the SEC. His college finalists included four SEC programs - Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Alabama. Today, the Blue Chip recruit announces his college commitment from amongst those four.

15-Nov-2007
Signing Week: Gilchrist heads to Athens
The #1-ranked recruit this year is Nadja Gilchrist (Webster, NY). Everyone always wants to keep tabs on #1, and Gilchrist recently announced her intention to sign with Jeff Wallace's Georgia Bulldogs. Today, the highly-recruited senior stops by to comment on her college decision.

14-Nov-2007
Signing Day: Keri Wong is a Tiger
Blue Chip recruit Keri Wong (Jackson, Miss.) has been dominant in tournaments in the southeast and throughout the nation. Her 55-17 record over the past year includes 13 wins over Blue Chip opponents and championships at the Interscholastics and Tennis Express ITF Championships. That kind of performance attracts a lot of college coaches. Today, Signing Day, find out where Wong will sign her National Letter of Intent.

14-Nov-2007
Signing Day: Doverspike Rolls with the Tide
Signing Day keeps moving with another commitment announcement - this time from 5-Star senior Richard Doverspike (Duluth, Ga.). Doverspike had narrowed his list of schools to Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Tennessee, and Penn State. And today, Signing Day, he is ready to announce a commitment.

9-Nov-2007
Countdown: Hilary Bartlett Decides
Over the past year, we have interviewed a number of top tennis players who are also exceptional students. One player with both of those qualities is Blue Chip recruit Hilary Bartlett (New York, NY). Today, Bartlett announces her college choice from among Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.

7-Nov-2007
Countdown: Clayton Announces Decision
Blue Chip senior Courtney Clayton is one of the most coveted recruits in the country. Her tennis resume has it all: national titles, extensive international play, USA team titles, and wins at the professional level. Today she announces her college decision.

6-Nov-2007
Countdown: Florida's Burkhardt Chooses Gators
Blue Chip Joey Burkhardt grew up wearing the orange and blue athletic gear of the University of Florida, and there won't be any wardrobe changes for his college years, as the right-hander from St. Augustine has verbally committed to the Gators.

5-Nov-2007
Rebirth at Tulane: Lindsay Dvorak Commits
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina rolled through the Gulf Coast and damaged a number of communities - most notably New Orleans. Tulane University was forced to cancel its tennis programs for the past two years, but women's tennis returns in 2008-09. One of the first recruits to commit to Tulane is 5-Star recruit Lindsay Dvorak. We talked with Dvorak about her decision.

31-Oct-2007
Countdown: Wilson a Boilermaker
Thomas Wilson had dreamed about the moment for years, but the five-star recruit was caught off guard earlier this month when Purdue offered him a spot. He took time to think it over. But the more he thought, the clearer the decision became.

30-Oct-2007
Countdown: Nevolo Stays in Home State
Blue Chip recruit Dennis Nevolo took the maximum five official visits this fall, but in the end, it was an unofficial visit to the University of Illinois that convinced him to join the Fighting Illini.

25-Oct-2007
Countdown: Lauren McHale Update
Lauren McHale's tennis journey began ten years ago in Hong Kong; in the next several weeks, the 17-year-old from New Jersey will select another destination that will shape her future: a college campus.

24-Oct-2007
Countdown: Marino to Don Yellow Jacket Next Fall
She took only one official visit, but for Blue Chip Rebecca Marino of Vancouver, British Columbia, it was enough. After meeting the coaches and the team during a September trip to the Georgia Tech campus, Marino was convinced it was the place for her.

23-Oct-2007
Countdown: Ryan Thacher to Stanford
There is only one #1, and his name is Ryan Thacher (Studio City, Calif.). Thacher is a unanimous choice as the top recruit in America, standing at #1 in the USTA Boys 18s and the #1-ranked senior on the College Recruiting List. Combine that with a 4.5 GPA and near-perfect board scores, and every college coach in America is after him. Last week, he made his decision, and tennis fans in Palo Alto are excited.

22-Oct-2007
Countdown: Wil Spencer Selects Texas A&M
College Station, Texas is the next stop for blue chip senior Wil Spencer, who has verbally committed to Texas A&M University. For Spencer, the Tennis Recruiting Network's second-ranked player in the class of 2008, the choice was between Florida and Texas A&M. After taking official visits to both schools, he decided in favor of the Aggies.

9-Oct-2007
Casey Watt Decides
With Signing Week only a few weeks away, many seniors are starting to make their college decisions. Today's commitment announcement comes from Blue Chip senior Casey Watt. The Pennsylvania native decides from among Virginia, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Penn.

8-Oct-2007
Wilkins excited about Minnesota
At Minnesota, Head Coach Tyler Thomson is building for success. After a 5-18 showing in '06, the Golden Gophers finished the 2007 season with a 12-11 record and a FILA ranking of #61. Thomson looks to be keeping things on track for the future with strong recruiting. He recently received a verbal commitment from the top player in Minnesota for Fall 2008 - 5-Star recruit Niltooli Wilkins. We talked with Wilkins about her decision to stay in-state and compete for Minnesota in the Big 10.

27-Sep-2007
Top Prospect: Alison Riske
Most juniors head to the USTA National championships hoping to catch the eye of a Division I coach at the school of their choice. But when it's Billie Jean King who is impressed by your game and expresses an interest in speaking with you, well, forgive USTA Girls 18s Nationals finalist Alison Riske for being a little awestruck.

20-Sep-2007
Top Target: Dennis Nevolo
When blue chip recruit Dennis Nevolo of Gurnee, Ill., boarded an airplane bound for New York last month as the 31st alternate for the US Open junior championships, he didn't know if his racquets would get any use. Not only did he get in, but he won both qualifying matches and two more wins in the main draw. Colette Lewis of ZooTennis.com sat down with Nevolo to discuss all things tennis.

30-Aug-2007
Recruiting Profile: James "Bo" Seal
Sixteen-year-old Bo Seal of Chattanooga, Tenn., has played many sports in his life, but he is now focusing on tennis. A finalist in both singles and doubles at the Nationals in Kalamazoo earlier this month, he is now looking forward to another opportunity to delve deeper into the sport, when he heads for the famous IMG/Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

10-Aug-2007
Early Arrivals: Logan Hansen to Stanford
TennisRecruiting.net has featured a number of top players - including Blue Chip senior Logan Hansen (Santa Monica, Calif.) When we profiled Hansen last winter, she called Stanford her dream school. Sometimes, dreams come true. We talked with Hansen about her verbal commitment to the Cardinal.

7-Aug-2007
Early Arrivals: Drew Courtney to Virginia
The 18s National Hard Courts are taking place this week in Berkeley, California and Kalamazoo, Michigan. Many college coaches are in attendance - checking out the best that the Class of 2008 has to offer. One Top 25 athlete that has already made a commitment is Drew Courtney (Clifton, Va.) Courtney recently decided to stay in-state and play college tennis for the Virginia Cavaliers.

1-Aug-2007
Early Arrivals: Ryann Cutillo to Wake Forest
Although the recruiting season is only getting started for the Class of 2008, a number of high-profile recruits have already made verbal commitments. Today we look at Blue Chip senior Ryann Cutillo (Kings Park, NY), who recently committed to Wake Forest University.

13-Jul-2007
Imposing on the Court
At 6-foot-1, Kendal Woodard, a 13-year-old from Atlanta, is an imposing figure on the tennis court. But her warm smile and outgoing personality has made her a favorite among many on the USTA junior circuit. Jon Johnson of the Dothan Eagle talks with the 5-Star eighth-grader at the Southwest Zone Team Championship.

9-Jul-2007
Reflecting on Katrina with Top Prospect Charlie Jones
Charlie Jones, a senior at Destrehan High School in the New Orleans area, is one of the top junior tennis players in the country. An excellent student, he is likely receiving phone calls from college coaches across the country. But things were much different in August 2005 - when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf area. Jones talks tennis and more...

28-Jun-2007
Top Prospect: Bradley Klahn
Bradley Klahn is a quick study. The 16-year-old left-hander from Poway, Calif. was eleven when he began playing tennis, and within a few years he became a fixture in the Tennis Recruiting Network's top ten. Now his attention turns to selecting a college, and he realizes there's a lot to learn on that front too. With his impressive performances on the court and in the classroom, there are many college coaches hoping for an opportunity to instruct him in the process.

18-May-2007
Looking Ahead: Michael Chamerski
When I talk to the best coaches across the country, I find that they are all faced with the same question of "What can you do for me?" In most cases, coaches are doing everything in their power to make a student successful. The real question is whether the players are doing their part - and being their own coach. One player who impresses me in this regard is Michael Chamerski. Michael has mature shot selection, an uncanny ability to knock a forehand winner, and a genuine love for the game.

10-May-2007
Top Junior Prospect: Wil Spencer
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are in the midst of impressive winning streaks on clay and grass. Wil Spencer's streak is not surface related, but it too goes back years; the 17-year-old Floridian has been at the top spot in the Tennis Recruiting Network's Class of 2008 rankings since November of 2005 - a stretch of 80 weeks. With that record of sustained excellence, it's no surprise that college coaches from the country's top Division I schools have been eager to get his attention.

30-Apr-2007
Rux Chooses Baylor
He had plenty of alternatives, but Jordan Rux, of Kerrville, Texas has decided to stay in the Lone Star State, committing to join the Baylor Bears this fall. Ranked third by the USTA and eighth among the class of 2007 by TennisRecruiting.net, Rux was a much-sought-after prospect when he began taking visits this spring.

13-Apr-2007
Spring Signing Week '07: Sibilski Announces
We wrap up our special Signing Week coverage with a commitment from 5-Star recruit Agnes Sibilski (Bethesda, MD). Sibilski is extremely accomplished both on the court and in the classroom, and her choices came down to a number of Ivy League schools. Find out where she decided right now...

12-Apr-2007
Spring Signing Week '07: Cox Commits
Signing Week continues, and today we have a commitment from Blue Chip recruit Bradley Cox (Duluth, GA). Cox made his decision from among Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky.

11-Apr-2007
Spring Signing Week '07: Dorr Decides
At long last, Signing Day is here. We kick off the week with a commitment announcement from one of the top recruits in the nation - Alexis Dorr (Doylestown, PA). Dorr considered a number of college programs, but she ended up selecting a Big 10 school. Find out why there is rejoicing in the Hawkeye state.

6-Apr-2007
Countdown: Big Green Curtis
With Signing Week starting on Monday, we check in with one last senior who has made his decision. This fall, Curtis Roby (New York, NY) is heading to Dartmouth College. Roby is one of three 4-Star recruits who selected the Big Green.

30-Mar-2007
Countdown: Nze heads to Duke
Many of the very top juniors drift away from junior tennis and start playing futures events - to challenge themselves and to earn points on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. One of these players is Blue Chip senior Ellah Nze (Delray Beach, FL). With a pro tournament title under her belt and a Top-500 WTA ranking, Nze plans to head to Durham, North Carolina this Fall as a Duke Blue Devil.

28-Mar-2007
Countdown: Kim to Princeton
Florida always has a strong crop of players, but this year's seniors look even stronger than usual. One Florida senior looking to make an immediate impact in college is Ryan Kim (Miami, FL) who heads to Princeton this fall.

15-Feb-2007
Recruiting Profile: Jamie Hampton
2007 will be the year of the professional women's circuit for 17-year-old Jamie Hampton. Although she played in the French and U.S. Open qualifying tournaments in 2006 and reached the final of a $10,000 Pro Circuit event last June, the blue chip recruit still found time for a few high profile junior events. But this year her emphasis has changed.

12-Feb-2007
Top Junior Prospect: Logan Hansen
"She is one of those unique competitors that you come across every ten years or so." Those were the words used to describe Logan Hansen (Santa Monica, CA) by Dr. Lee Herzog, one of Hansen's coaches. The Blue Chip junior had an outstanding year in 2006 - winning five championships and posting fifteen wins against Blue Chip competition. And although she has aspirations to play professional tennis, she plans to first secure a college degree.

9-Feb-2007
Looking Forward: Denis Kudla
The little blond kid wouldn't look out of place in the next "Bad News Bears" movie. Physically, he might remind you of Tanner - not big-serving Roscoe, but the Little Leaguer with the "Chico Bail's Bonds" ad on his jersey. But get him on a tennis court, and you can see the genius and savvy possessed by Denis Kudla of Northern Virginia.

8-Feb-2007
Recruiting Profile: Joel Samaha
With a sister at Princeton and a brother recently graduated from Dartmouth, it's not surprising that Joel Samaha views those two Ivy League schools as serious possibilities for his own higher education. But the junior at Tampa's H.B. Plant High School hasn't made any final decisions just yet.

2-Feb-2007
Talking with Harry Fowler
Harry Fowler, a Blue Chip freshman from Houston, Tex., is coming off an excellent year in 2006. Highlights include two national titles and an appearance in the finals at the Easter Bowl. Gregg Jones caught up with Fowler and talked with him about his tennis and his goals.

1-Jan-2007
Guzick in Crimson
Happy New Year! TennisRecruiting.net is excited to kick off 2007 with a huge college commitment announcement from Blue Chip senior recruit Will Guzick (Greer, SC). We first profiled this impressive young man back in February, and today he is ready to make his announcement from among Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.

27-Nov-2006
Talking with Michael McClune
I understand many juniors are taught to focus on the process, think long-term, and develop for the future. However, very few juniors are able to detach themselves from the results and stay the course. As a consequence, only a handful of juniors are able to translate their games into encouraging professional results. In my eyes, Michael McClune (Irvine, CA) is one of the few American juniors who can legitimately battle on the ITF Pro Circuit.

10-Nov-2006
Signing Week: Hook 'em, Maggie
California is fertile ground for recruiting in any college sport, and tennis is no exception. Twenty five of the Top 100 women's recruits nationally come from the Golden State, and one of the best is Blue Chip prospect Maggie Mello (Laguna Beach, CA). Today, Mello announces her decision from among California, Georgia Tech, Texas, USC, UCLA, Wake Forest, and Washington.

9-Nov-2006
Signing Week: Jared Pinsky Decides
The most highly-regarded male recruit in the mid-Atlantic states is Jared Pinsky (Potomac, MD). Pinsky, the former #1 player in the National Boys' 16s, is the lone Blue Chip recruit from the Maryland/Virginia area. And today he announces his college commitment at TennisRecruiting.net.

8-Nov-2006
Signing Week: Wildcats Sign Rispoli
Signing Day is indeed here, and Peter Rispoli is excited to make his college decision public. The choices for the 6'3" right-hander from Naples, Florida came down to a half-dozen schools: William & Mary, Penn State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Stanford.

8-Nov-2006
Signing Week: Hickey in White and Gold
Blue Chip recruit Noelle Hickey (Hackensack, NJ) has been planning to attend an ACC school for quite some time. She considered Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Wake Forest before narrowing the list to Tech and Wake. Today, Signing Day, find out where Hickey will sign her Letter of Intent.

3-Nov-2006
Countdown: Sanchez to USC
TennisRecruiting.net has featured a number of Blue Chip senior recruits this summer and fall. One of the best is Maria Sanchez (Modesto, CA). We profiled Sanchez back in early August when her college options were wide open. Just a few weeks later, Sanchez committed to the USC Trojans. We talked again with the prized recruit about her verbal commitment.

2-Nov-2006
Countdown: Elon Lands Helpingstine
Elon University is a beautiful school located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The Phoenix tennis program is coming off a strong season - an 8-1 conference record earned them a share of the Southern Conference regular-season championship in 2006. Recently, 4-Star recruit Chase Helpingstine announced his commitment to Elon. We talked with Helpingstine about his junior career and his decision process.

1-Nov-2006
Learning From Christina McHale
I was in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the B1 ITF Junior Event recently and witnessed some of the best juniors in the country. On the second day of the event, I was roaming the courts hoping to find someone who would catch my eye. Eventually, I settled on the first stadium court - impressed by the court presence of a fourteen year old girl named Christina McHale.

27-Oct-2006
Countdown: Deacs Pick Up Reveche
Wake Forest University has a proud tennis tradition, with eleven NCAA appearances over the past twelve years. The Deacons are hoping to continue their winning ways, and second-year coach Chad Skorupka has wasted no time on the recruiting trail for 2007 - already picking up a verbal commitment from Katarina Reveche (Canoga Park, CA).

26-Oct-2006
Countdown: Hannah Chooses the Colonials
The George Washington University is located in our nation's capitol - just a few blocks away from the White House. Visiting the school is an experience like no other. In July, GW hired Greg Munoz as their new men's tennis coach. And in August, Munoz received his first verbal commitment for the Class of 2007 - from 4-Star prospect Erik Hannah (Bradenton, FL).

20-Oct-2006
Countdown: Kellen Damico
Kellen Damico of Parker, Colorado sits on top of the junior tennis world. At the age of 17 (first year U18), Kellen already owns a Wimbledon Junior Doubles Championship as well as reaching a career-high #6 in the ITF Junior Rankings. He is also the #1 senior on the College Recruiting List. The impressive results are only the beginning of his long journey towards the top of the game.

5-Oct-2006
Recruiting Profile: Clint Bowles
Floridian Clint Bowles has traveled the world this year, playing top-level junior tournaments in Sao Paulo, Milan, Paris, London and New York. But his tennis trips this fall won't be to world capitals. Instead, he'll be visiting college campuses, narrowing his choices, which he describes as "wide open" now.

22-Sep-2006
Soft-Spoken, But Loud on the Court: Nicole Gibbs
New player ratings come out in just over a week, but there is little suspense for thirteen-year-old Nicole Gibbs (Shaker Heights, OH). The Blue Chip athlete has been dominant in her first year in the 14s. How dominant? Her last four outings netted championships at the Clay Courts (14s) and Midwest Open (16s) - and second-place finishes at the Girls' 14 Nationals and a National Open (16s).

21-Sep-2006
Illini Strike Early
The University of Illinois has a strong nucleus of players returning for 2006-07 - along with a pair of highly-regarded incoming freshmen. And this summer, head coach Brad Dancer's hard work on the recruiting trail has already paid off; two 5-Star recruits have already made verbal commitments to wear the Orange and Blue in the Fall of 2007.

28-Aug-2006
Ten-Time National Champion Jack Sock
At just thirteen years of age, Jack Sock (Lincoln, NE) has already accomplished what most tennis players will only dream about - ten USTA national championships. And he has won all ten of these championships in a single age division - the Boys' 12s.

24-Aug-2006
Top Prospect: Calvin Bennett
Five-Star senior recruit Calvin Bennett (Sandy, Utah) is a busy guy these days. Playing in Level 1 tournaments, checking out the top liberal arts colleges in America, and being an honor roll student at a prestigious private school tends to keep you busy. Bennett talks tennis and updates us on his recruiting status.

11-Aug-2006
Top Prospect: Maria Sanchez
Maria Sanchez is a two-sport star who excels in both basketball and tennis. The Blue Chip senior prospect talks to us about her junior tennis career - and her college decision-making process.

10-Aug-2006
Gator Heaven for Tyler Hochwalt
Last month, Tyler Hochwalt accounced his commitment to the University of Florida at ZooTennis.com. Tyler talked with us at the Clay Courts, and he commented on his recent commitment.

2-Aug-2006
Reka Zsilinszka Decides
Blue Chip Recruit Reka Zsilinszka (Fayetteville, NC) will head off to San Jose later this week to compete at the USTA Nationals. Although dozens of coaches from top schools will be in attendance, none of them will be approaching the talented right-hander. That is because Zsilinszka has already made her college choice - a choice that she announces today at the Tennis Recruiting Network.

1-Aug-2006
Forman a Demon Deacon
Over the past few months, we have featured several Blue Chip recruits from the Class of 2007. One of those prospects - Steven Forman (Del Mar, CA) - recently committed to Wake Forest. We caught up with him recently to get comments on his verbal commitment.

31-Jul-2006
Recruiting Profile: Nick Meister
Nick Meister describes himself as "pretty much just a Southern California kid," listing the beach, skateboarding and hanging out with friends as his favorite pastimes. But once the 17-year-old rising senior at Tesoro High School captured the Southern California Junior Sectional 18s singles and doubles titles last month, there wasn't much time for those pursuits. Instead, he was busy opening recruiting mail and on July 1, fielding phone calls from college coaches across the country.

13-Jul-2006
Top Prospect: Steven Forman
Rising senior and Blue Chip prospect Steven Forman (Del Mar, CA) has the full attention of top college coaches from across the country. His powerful serve, aggressive game, and performance in the classroom make the California native an ideal candidate. And his 6'4" frame doesn't hurt, either.

3-Jul-2006
Like Father, Like Son: Smith to Georgia Tech
Don't look now, but the contact period for the Class of 2007 starts this weekend. That means college coaches will spend time courting rising seniors - and we are likely to hear more college commitments. One early commitment comes from Blue Chip prospect Ryan Smith (Marietta, GA), who recently decided to stay in-state at Georgia Tech. Smith chose the Yellow Jackets over Duke and Stanford.

15-Jun-2006
Price is Right: Christopher Price Decides
They grow 'em big in Texas, and Christopher Price is no exception. The long, tall, 6'4" junior from Houston has been playing fantastic tennis as of late - going 12-2 in May with a championship, and he reached the quarterfinals of last week's Texas Sectionals. Today, Price is ready to announce his college commitment from seven candidate schools: Stanford, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Michigan, Georgia Tech, and Texas.

29-May-2006
Top Junior Prospect: Tyler Hochwalt
Blue Chip junior Tyler Hochwalt had an excellent year in 2005, and he hopes to build on his successes this summer. Since his appearance at Kalamazoo last August, the 17-year-old has played almost exclusively in ITF events - picking up some nice wins along the way. As far as college goes, Hochwalt is essentially open with seven schools on his list. So college coaches can't wait to talk with him this summer.

26-May-2006
Jennifer Meredith: Team Player
Blue Chip junior prospect Jennifer Meredith (Marietta, GA) realized long ago that she wanted to make an early college decision. That time has arrived - today she announces her college commitment. Meredith's decision came down to four major universities in the Southeast: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

22-May-2006
Schnugg Decides Early
Another week, another verbal commitment from a Blue Chip prospect in the junior class. This time it's Nathaniel Schnugg (Medford, OR) who is ready to make his announcement. The 6'3" junior plans to enroll in college in January 2007 after an early high school graduation this fall. His final five schools were Georgia Tech, California, Stanford, Texas, and Georgia.

8-May-2006
The Left Stuff: Ryan Thacher's Mission Includes Tennis and School
Ryan Thacher is a tennis player now. Although he excelled at baseball, football and soccer, the sixteen-year-old Southern Californian is devoting his athletic talents these days to kick serves and backhand volleys, not pass routes and pitch counts.

1-May-2006
Wahoowa! Houston Barrick Decides
The Spring signing period for the Class of 2006 just started a couple of weeks ago, but we already have a commitment from a top prospect in the Class of 2007. Blue Chip recruit Houston Barrick (Brentwood, TN) - who just won a title at the USTA Spring Nationals - has made unofficial visits to Georgia Tech, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and North Carolina. Barrick is ready to make a decision from among those five schools.

14-Apr-2006
Spring Signing Week '06: Saddler Decides
We wrap up our special Signing Week coverage with a commitment from 4-Star recruit Deandra Saddler (Alpharetta, GA). Saddler narrowed her list to a set of widely-varied schools across the country - Colorado, Elon, Mississippi State, UNC Greensboro, and Virginia Tech. Find out where she decided.

13-Apr-2006
Spring Signing Week '06: Racz Commits
Signing Week rolls on, and today we have a commitment from Blue Chip recruit Christopher Racz (Philadelphia, PA). Racz considered a host of schools - but he ended up choosing a school that was not on his list six weeks ago.

12-Apr-2006
Spring Signing Week '06: Hyndman Decides
Signing Day has finally arrived. With it, one of the top female recruits in the country - Yvette Hyndman (Bradenton, FL) - announces her college commitment. Her decision came down to two schools 3,000 miles from each other - Georgia and UCLA. Find out whether the celebration is in Los Angeles or Athens.

3-Apr-2006
Countdown: Jeppson Chooses Amherst
Pamela Jeppson, the top senior recruit in Massachusetts, had her choice of colleges. She chose to stay close to home and attend Division III powerhouse Amherst. We talked with Jeppson about her college decision process and her reasons for selecting Amherst.

9-Mar-2006
Top Junior Prospect: Casey Cullen
Starting next week, TennisRecruiting.net will focus heavily on the senior class as we kick off the "Countdown to Signing Day." But today, in the calm before the storm, we finish our three-week glance at the Class of 2007 with a visit to Beverly Hills, Michigan and 4-Star junior prospect Casey Cullen.

3-Mar-2006
Top Junior Prospect: Reka Zsilinszka
Today we look ahead to the Class of 2007 and top junior prospect Reka Zsilinszka (Fayetteville, NC). Top programs around the country already know about this Blue Chip athlete who has been ranked as high as #3 in her class. Find out what she says about her junior career and the college decision process.

23-Feb-2006
Top Junior Prospect: Will Guzick
In a few weeks, all eyes will be on the senior class and the Spring Signing Period. But today, we look at one of the premier recruits in the junior class: Will Guzick (Greer, SC). Top programs will surely chase after this Blue Chip prospect - Guzick's performance on the court is rivaled only by his phenomenal record in the classroom.

17-Feb-2006
Wildcats sign Johnston
The state of Ohio features four girls who rank in the top 50 of the senior class. One of those four, 5-Star recruit Christine Johnston of Columbus, signed with Kentucky during the fall signing period. Johnston selected the Wildcats over several SEC and Big 10 programs.

6-Feb-2006
Hunt Views Georgia as Perfect Fit
Jamie Hunt has an impressive junior resume. He has played in six Junior Grand Slams, finished third at Kalamazoo last year, is ranked among the world's top 30 juniors by the International Tennis Federation and is sixth in his class according to the Tennis Recruiting Network. He wanted to play college tennis. So why wasn't he the subject of intense signing pressure by Division I coaches this fall?

3-Feb-2006
Plotkin: Blue Chip, Blue Devil
Blue Chip recruit Elizabeth Plotkin is one of the top American tennis players in this year's senior class. Her abilities on the court are obvious from her pedigree - which includes a quarterfinal appearance at the US Open as well as a top-30 ITF ranking. Next year, Plotkin will switch coasts - from San Francisco, California to Durham, North Carolina - to play college tennis with the powerful Duke Blue Devils.

26-Jan-2006
Tommy McGeorge to Iowa
One of the top seniors in the state of Arizona is Tommy McGeorge (Tuscon, AZ). During the fall signing week, McGeorge committed to the up-and-coming Iowa Hawkeyes. McGeorge selected Iowa over Arizona, Notre Dame, and Penn State.

20-Jan-2006
Mustang Claire
In the recent conference shakeup, Southern Methodist University moved from the WAC to Conference USA. The move has been kind to the Mustangs in terms of recruiting. Head Coach Rob Howarth has followed last year's solid recruiting effort with what should be one of the top recruiting classes in C-USA for 2006-07. A key signee for SMU is Claire Rietsch from Laguna Beach, California.

22-Dec-2005
Commodore Moye
The men's program down at Vanderbilt recently picked up three strong commitments, including James Moye from Winter Park, Florida. Moye signed his letter of intent during the fall signing period, selecting the Commodores over Notre Dame, South Carolina, William & Mary, and Virginia Tech.

11-Nov-2005
Anisimova to Penn
We wrap up our coverage of Fall Signing Week '05 with a decision from Maria Anisimova (Hallandale Beach, FL). Anisimova plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania next year.

10-Nov-2005
Justin Kronauge Decides
Who's #1 in the USTA Boys' 18 Singles Point Race? Justin Kronauge, that's who. The senior from Dayton, Ohio has decided to go to college rather than turn professional, and today he announces his commitment at TennisRecruiting.net.

9-Nov-2005
Melissa Saiontz - Hold that Tiger!
Senior Melissa Saiontz (Miami, FL) announces her college commitment today, November 9, the first day of the Fall signing period. The choices for the Blue Chip prospect came down to four premier liberal arts schools - Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Duke.

4-Nov-2005
Davison Chooses Texas
Blue Chip recruit Stephanie Davison (Port Orchard, WA) has made a verbal commitment to the University of Texas, choosing the Longhorns over Notre Dame, Northwestern, Washington, and Michigan. We talked to the righthander shortly after her commitment.

27-Oct-2005
Q&A with Kevin Kaiser
Five-star prospect Kevin Kaiser (Saratoga, CA) has been carefully mulling over his college choice, and he plans to make his decision before the fall signing period. The 6-3, 180 pound righthander is considering Stanford, Harvard, Michigan, and California. Kaiser talks about his junior tennis career, his goals, and the schools he is considering.

21-Oct-2005
Rielley Chooses Irish
One of the top recruits in this year's senior class is Blue Chip prospect Colleen Rielley (Shawnee Mission, KS). Her tournament resume over the past year is nothing short of gaudy: an overall record of 88-8, including an unbeaten run of 61-0 against 4- and 5-star recruits. She won nine titles, including the USTA Winter National Championships and two National Opens. And next fall, Rielley plans to play her college tennis at the University of Notre Dame.

6-Oct-2005
Mixson leaning to Gators
The fall recruiting season is heating up, and one of the hottest players in the Class of '06 is Bradley Mixson (Miami, FL). During July and August - the height of the tournament season - Mixson had a record of 18-6 in four premier national events: the National Open in Tallahassee, the Clays, Junior Davis Cup, and the National Championships in Kalamazoo. And 12 of those wins came over players ranked in the Top 50. The Florida native talks recruiting with us, and his top five includes three in-state schools.

26-Sep-2005
Alexander Down to Two
Sometime over the next few weeks, there will be rejoicing in either Gainesville or Austin. Why? Because 2006 Blue Chip prospect Megan Alexander (Spring Creek Academy, Dallas, TX) plans to announce her college choice - and the two contenders are Florida and Texas. Both schools have outstanding tennis programs - they met in the semifinals of the NCAA championships this past year, where Texas won 4-3. This month, they meet again in the recruiting arena for the services of Alexander.

22-Sep-2005
Golden Bears lead for Stewart
Kallim Stewart (Ojai, CA) has the tools and talents college coaches are looking for. His serve and forehand, record in the classroom, and performance on the tennis court have caught the attention of many top coaches across the country. Right now, the University of California (Berkeley, CA) is the leader for Stewart, but Stewart names five other schools in contention for his services.

8-Sep-2005
Schellenberg Likes It Hot
With the summer behind us and the school year gearing up, top senior prospect Rook Schellenberg (Dallas, TX) decided the time was right to narrow his list of colleges. The 6-0 right-hander lists his top four, in no particular order, as Texas, Virginia, Illinois, and Florida State.

19-Aug-2005
Q&A with Matt Bruch
Matt Bruch (Lake Forest, IL) is the real deal. The Illinois native is arguably the top male tennis recruit in the Class of 2005. And next year, Bruch will head off to "The Farm" to play college tennis for the Stanford Cardinal.

18-Aug-2005
Wildcats Sign Marc Dwyer
Cerebral is a word normally used to describe the captain of the chess club or the spelling bee champion. (And no, I did not know how to spell appoggiatura.) Cerebral is not a term usually associated with the top juniors in American tennis. And yet, when talking about Marc Dwyer of Peachtree City, GA, that was the term that kept coming up.

18-Aug-2005
Wildcats Sign Marc Dwyer
Cerebral is a word normally used to describe the captain of the chess club or the spelling bee champion. (And no, I did not know how to spell appoggiatura.) Cerebral is not a term usually associated with the top juniors in American tennis. And yet, when talking about Marc Dwyer of Peachtree City, GA, that was the term that kept coming up.

12-Aug-2005
Kim a Bulldog
This fall, Janet Kim of Palisades Park, NJ will take a short drive up Interstate 95 to New Haven for college. Kim will play her collegiate tennis next year in the historic Ivy League - after committing to Yale University.

5-Aug-2005
Orban Heading to Maryland
"Quickness, quickness, and quickness." Those were the words used by Terry Sanford High School (Fayetteville, NC) tennis player Andy Orban to describe the strengths of his tennis game. Next season, that quickness will be on display in College Park, MD, when Orban begins his collegiate career at the University of Maryland.

4-Aug-2005
Q&A with Maggie Yahner
Maggie Yahner is the type of player all college coaches want playing for their teams. A Denver native now living in Las Vegas, Yahner has excelled on the junior circuit. She defeated highly-ranked players in big-time tournaments - while winning titles at National Opens and ITF events. Yahner is an impressive physical specimen, standing at 5-10 with an athletic frame. And, to top things off, she is an excellent student as well.

29-Jul-2005
William & Mary Signs Cash
The William and Mary women's tennis program had an excellent campaign in 2005, winning the CAA conference championship and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Tribe's future looks even brighter with a strong 2005 recruiting class - a class that features Lauren Cash from Northern Highlands High School (Allendale, NJ).

28-Jul-2005
Aggies Sign Top Texas Player
Although Baylor fell to UCLA 4-3 in the championship, the state of Texas is in position to reload - several Texas teams should be in contention for deep runs in the NCAA championships next year. Tim Cass and Texas A&M expect to be one of those teams, and Cass has signed one of the nation's top recruiting classes - a class headlined by Conor Pollock of San Antonio, TX.

27-Jul-2005
Buckeyes Pick Up Koniecko
The Ohio State men's tennis team has established itself as a very good program. The Buckeyes have made six straight NCAA Division I tournament appearances, and 2005 marks their fifth straight finish in the ITA Top 25. However, head coach Ty Tucker is looking to take his team to the next level this coming season and make a deep run into the NCAA tournament. In 2005-06, he should have the personnel to do it. All six of his starters should return next year, and he also adds blue chip recruit Bryan Koniecko of Jericho, NY.

26-Jul-2005
Robison Chooses Florida
The University of Florida has a tradition of excellence in women's tennis. This year was no exception - the Gators advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament before falling to Texas 4-3. Florida returns five of six starters next year, and they will add punch to their lineup with top junior Keri Robison of Decatur, IL.

22-Jul-2005
Q&A with Meg Fanjoy
Tarheel born and Tarheel bred, Meg Fanjoy is excited about the prospect of playing her college tennis wearing the baby blue uniform of the University of North Carolina.