Nix wrote:

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Thanks Oakland, thats very interesting. I hadnt heard of Paul so its helpful to hear how hes progressing. How does that level (you say its a weaker team) compare to that of, say, Cam, when he was a college student?

-- Edited by Nix on Wednesday 25th of July 2018 10:37:04 AM

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Paul might actually have a bit more latent talented than a lot of the guys who go to college, he has made a cracking start to force his way into the no 1 slot in a SEC college and lead the team as a freshman, it is impressive. South Carolina have a good football programme (and basketball) arguably stronger than TCU with that comes money and resources for other sports. There are some similarities between the coaching set up, TCU is well established and Cams transition is a lovely bit of icing on top of what has always been a solid cake but not many programmes get a top 15 male junior drop into their laps.

The TCU coaching team have a lot of experience, David Roditi has success playing doubles on tour and is a Mexican DC player and more recently the Mexican DC captain, interestingly the Loyala Marymount womens coach out recruiting in the London Tennis Tube video with David is also a Mexican DC player (a slightly better one) and Fed Cup Captain. 

Josh Goffi has been the South Carolina Head coach since 2010 and suprise surprise is an ex top collegiate played (at local rivals Clemson) went on tour had a bit of doubles success and has played DC for Brazil (admittedly they were short). He is different in that he is the son of a top coach (trained Johnny and Patrick Mac as a boy) and therefore had a lot of exposure to and resources to draw on. There has been a recent lift in performance as his outstanding assistant (2016) and now associate head coach Kyle Bailey quickly found his feet and SEC wins stacked up. So a strong nicely balanced ambitious team with Josh supplying the experience and Kyle the motivational lift.

I am sure Paul has never had this much attention put into his Tennis development so far and if he can build on his progress this year he may well be able to make inroads deep into 25Ks while still at school in the way Cam did. That I think is the key to not getting stuck when trying to develop a career on graduating. Unlike Cam who went in as a top junior and ran out of useful college opposition I can see Paul  staying the full 4 years.

For further comparison there is a big difference in the quality of opponent in the SEC when compared to the conference in which Jack FH thrived (and similarly Henry Patteen now), Jack has had a good start but breaking into the top 300 over that first 18-24 months may be too tall a challenge. 

Fingers crossed but he is the type of guy who might just be able to use college tennis as a way into the pros. 

Paul is now taking on the local 20 year-old home favourite (who was junior JWR 50 a couple of years ago).

I think Paul's feeling the forum love and support - currently leading 6-3 2-0*......

fingers crossed.....