The individual match season for the men's tennis team ended this past weekend. Two of our players have already qualfied for the Fall National Championship event in San Diego two weeks hence, but at this time it does not look like either Andy Andrade or Ben Shelton will play the event. The team intends to continue traveling as a team to ITF professional events around the south until the spring season commences in January. A side light of these professional tournaments is the fact that the number one ranked junior in America, and 9th ranked junior in the world, Bruno Kuzuhara is playing the same professional tournaments as our team, and has partnered with one of our players in each of these tournaments. Will this outstanding young man from Coconut Creek Florida be a Gator in the immedate future? Stay tuned and we will find out on November 10th, which is the first signing day for men's tennis.
I like the sound of that. Thought he might bypass college, but the positive experience these other kids are having and the development they experience has to be a great motivator
He may bypass college, nothing becomes real until a lettere of intent is signed. There is alot of pressure on these young athletes and making a potential life altering decision is not easy at their age. Coaches are facing the same dilema as the pressure to recruit mounts each and every year. There are so many variables that have to be met while recruiting a high powered athlete in any sport. Florida will have a good class this year, but not even the coaches know who all the names are that will be signing with them come the week of November 10th.
Heck, even signing them in Nov doesn't assure they will be here in the fall. I think UF women losing signee Allie Kiick and a couple of other signees that never showed up, started the spiral they have been on
I know very little about the girls program at UF. However I have heard the recruiting has them moving in the right direction this current year. You are correct that a tennis player can leave at any point if they want to turn pro. I have had that experience twice while I coached at UF. Once with Jesse Levine and the other time with Ryan Sweeting. The difference maker in today's world is the transfer portal and potential fifth year seniors. Like any other top school Florida is looking into who might be available for the coming year to get the best players on campus.
