US College Signings

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

US College Signings

PaulM · Tennis legend

You missed Lana Rush, heading to FSU

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Thanks Paul. Added in Lana, Athena C, Peter M, Molly W.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Added another bunch of names

Spectator · All-time great

The fascinating one to me is Rebecca Smaller, if she's really a tennis recruit. Duke is just about the best programme in the country (has just fallen from #1 to #6). Who is Ms Smaller? I don't remember seeing her, but she must be good.

Incidentally, when I went to look up the rankings, on the ITA site (where all the rankings are found) there was a picture of Jade Curtis, who is apparently ranked #1 in the country in the NAIA. I have no idea what the NAIA is ... but it's nice that she is doing well in the context in which she's playing!

PaulM · Tennis legend

NAIA is basically the minor leagues. Jade had messed up her academics, because of bad advice from people who thought she was destined for the big time and dropping out of school very young despite it being clear her game was nowhere near strong enough to break through onto the main tour, and taken too much sponsorship money and so wasn't eligible for NCAA. She was barely eligible for NAIA which is more flexible but Sarah got her in.

She's playing against very poor opposition and barely losing games, let alone matches. Effectively it got her the chance to get a free education through tennis, but she could, if things had worked out differently been at a top division 1 school (both for tennis and academics).

Jenny Ren started in NAIA but due to the very complicated eligibility rules, she was able to stay there only for a while and then move to a Division 1 school (Boston College) where she has struggled with injury.

The most important thing about college is it shows that some of our junior players are nowhere near as good as some people thought they were, struggling in the much deeper talent pool and not even getting ranked or having to play way down the line-up. But they realise that in a safe environment and get a good education whilst continuing to love tennis, instead of going through the motions on tour for a few years, getting to about 600, running out of money, losing love for the game but still ending up coaching as they don't know what else to do and have no education.

Others flourish and give the tour a go, others flourish but decide to use their education.

Seems win win to me. Especially as you can still go pro without completing the four years if you decide you are ready early.

And yes Smaller getting recruited by Duke surprised me too. Maybe they see something they like to put her at #6 (or possibly even off the team at #7 or 8) but build her up, or use her for doubles. Or she could be going for the academics and is quite happy to know she might not get the same tennis action she could at a weaker school.

Tegan Louw is another who was recruited last year to a strong Division 1 team but has seen no dual season action.

-- Edited by PaulM on Tuesday 29th of April 2014 07:24:56 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Rebecca Smaller is a very promising player from London (saw her play once).
She represented the UK last summer at the last Maccabiah games and so was in the paper at the time.
She won the bronze medal in the junior singles and won the gold, with Josh Paris, in the junior Mixed doubles

Spectator · All-time great

Thanks so much, PaulM and CD for that really helpful background.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Are any Brits currently at college in US ranked highly in the college system or hitting the headlines?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Are any Brits currently at college in US ranked highly in the college system or hitting the headlines?

I think Joe Salisbury definitely is.

But someone who knows the system better than me might say I've got it wrong.

Spectator · All-time great

Lloyd Glasspool is the highest of the men at #40 in singles. Andrew Bettles at 89. Chris Simpson at 95. In doubles, Joe Salisbury at 12; Lloyd Glasspool at 15. Jordan Angus at 18. Chris Simpson at 34. Highest woman in singles is Georgina Sellyn at 66, followed by Sophie Watts at 78, Ruth Seaborne at 89, Samantha Vickers at 94. In doubles Daneika Borthwick is at 44... and then they have something of a monopoly on the early 50s ... Laura Slater at 51, Natalie Beazant at 52, Joanna Henderson at 53, and Pippa Horn at 55.

There are probably others - I only recognise the ones who have been mentioned on the board.

At a guess, the ones whose profiles most closely fit that of previous players who have made a good transition are Mr Glasspool and Mr Simpson, though Mr Salisbury and Mr Angus might fit the bill as well (as CD has often said in the case of the former). Less certain of the women: I think Ms Murray, who made the most successful transition of any recent university player was ranked in the 30s much of the time. But Ms Horn is highly ranked for a first year. (Then again, Jamie Loeb has been ranked #1 for almost the entirety of her first year)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Great to know Lloyd is doing so well, Spectator, because he's still quite young isn't he? I know he did so really well in Denmark last year. And seems to be a good friend of Dan Evans :)

Spectator · All-time great

I have no idea: they're mostly just names on the board/rankings lists to me, unlike to those of you who are more engaged!

PaulM · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Are any Brits currently at college in US ranked highly in the college system or hitting the headlines?

Of the girls, Natalie Beazant and Georgina Sellyn are probably the standouts. Samantha Vickers had a very strong career but she seems to have been injured this season. Alicia Barnett is also doing well at Northwestern, and Ruth Seaborne is also ranked in the lower regions of the top 100. Danieka Borthwick has also faded in and out of the rankings.

Brigit Folland and Pippa Horn perhaps haven't had the first year they might of expected. Brigit is doing ok, but Pippa was quickly moved down the line-up at Texas in both singles and doubles and isn't picking up a lot of wins.

Sam is the best college product we've had of late. Sarah was also hugely successful and had a very high ranking. Nik had a solid college career aswell. Hannah Grady (who some may remember) also did very, very well out there but didn't come back to the tour. Going back a little further you have the likes of Georgia Rose (who was a great prospect and flirted with some ITFs briefly with some success), Alice Barnes, Rachel Viollet and Christelle Grier, who all did well.

-- Edited by PaulM on Wednesday 30th of April 2014 08:18:18 AM

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

PaulM wrote:
And yes Smaller getting recruited by Duke surprised me too. Maybe they see something they like to put her at #6 (or possibly even off the team at #7 or 8) but build her up, or use her for doubles. Or she could be going for the academics and is quite happy to know she might not get the same tennis action she could at a weaker school.
Tegan Louw is another who was recruited last year to a strong Division 1 team but has seen no dual season action.

-- Edited by PaulM on Tuesday 29th of April 2014 07:24:56 PM

Beckie Smaller is a good left-hander from London based at Queenswood School in Hertfordshire where she is a tennis scholar. Most of the Queenswood girls have strong academics (certainly compared to the many youngsters who have pushed education way down their list of priorities in order to focus on tennis), so I see no reason why Miss Smaller should be any different. She is also IMO a good doubles player, and indeed has several ITF doubles titles.

Tegan Louw is at Kansas State but has been red-shirted this year. This means she is not included in the line-up for matches. Often this is due to eligibility issues but due to injuries in Tegan's case - believe she broke her leg or ankle in an accident almost upon arriving in the USA.