Florida Men's Recruiting Class is Tops; D I All-American Selections Released
The Tennis Recruiting Network announced the results of its Men's Spring Recruiting poll today, and just as in the fall rankings, the Florida Gators came out on top. If Levine returns, and he will unless a) he gets a huge signing offer from an agency or b) he reaches the ATP top 150 with his results this summer, Florida will be one of the preseason favorites for No. 1.
I am one of the panel that ranks recruiting classes (the women's spring rankings will be out on Monday) and I agree with the other seven voters who gave Florida the nod.
Because I was so busy during the NCAAs, I didn't have time to write original content for TRN, so they agreed to publish the accounts I wrote for zootennis. Next week, I'll be contributing my May Aces column--expect that to be weighted heavily toward NCAA heroes.
The ITA released its D I All-Americans and the season's final rankings today. Click here for the AA list, and here for the ranking page.
24 comments:
No one has ever brought this up to my knowledge, but there are way too many All-Americans in tennis, and three different ways in each category to make it. It waters down the prestiege of the award with this formula.
Theoretically you could be the sixth alternate(sound familiar), play a guy who is also an alternate in the 1st round(has happened), beat him, then have your 2nd round opponent twist an ankle three games into the match(Matt Bruch style) and BAM, your an all-american.
With that being said, congratulations to all of this years All-Americans, I know how much each of you worked your butts off all year long. I wish the college season was year-round, I barely know these juniors anymore. Next years final four in mens.
(1)Illinois over (4)Georgia
(2)Virginia over (3)Florida
Illinois over Virginia for national championship
Austin you crack me up. The grandstands haven't even been cleaned up yet in Athens and you're predicting....I love it!
Florida over Virginia in the final.
How do you see the Gator lineup? This is my pick.
Levine
Oulette
Hochwalt
Briceno
Dadamo
Hamui
Maybe Hochwalt and Briceno will switch off between 3 and 4, but Dadamo is playing way better than Johnny.
By this time last year, alot of blue chips had already decided. Only 1 month remains until the floodgates open, does anybody have an idea as to some picks and guesses for the class of '08.
There was a profile on Wil Spencer....ahem, he is a Florida boy, wouldn't that be something. Brennan could end up at FSU like his big brother and will NEVER be a Gator. Thacher could go to UCLA, Nevolo to Illinois, Daniel to Michigan, Klahn to Duke. Is Domijan a senior next year, he should DEFINITELY go to Florida.
What do ya think?
And a big congratulations to the All-Americans, what a great tournament.
austin...sorry bud, but youre crazy. florida is going to take the national championship next year. levine will come back and with hochwalt, hamui, and dadamo coming in...this team is cash money. they will have depth all the way through their number 6 singles spot, this team will be the team to beat next year!
Domijan is only a freshman according to tennisrecuiting.net.
What about the Pac-10 , are any of this teams in contention at all ? Are any top recruits going to any of this schools in 07-08 ?
Clayton - is going to Stanford this fall !
USC will be the powerhouse in the Pac-10. Yeah Clayton will do great at Stanford and they have Bruch but the team won't go too far beyond that.
Hochwalt at 3 or 4. He has no chance of playing that high if he makes the team at all. If he plays higher than 6 that team has no shot at top 10 finish.
dude are you on drugs? hochwalt not make the team....ha ha. funniest thing i've heard all day. ya jackson's really gonna spend a ton of money on him and not play him
whoever just ripped on me there has no clue what they are talking about. i suspect us three freshmen that are coming in will be rotating at 4,5 and 6 for the beginning. clearly you dont know how the college system works and you probably need to shut up. in the end, it is coach jacksons decison and it will depend on how everyone is playing at 3-6 for a lineup to be determined. thanks buddy...
I see the college system every day and yes it is Coach Jacksons decision. Nobody ripped you. I merely stated that if you played 3or 4 that it would not be a top 10 team. That is a fact unless you truly don't realize how difficult the S.E.C. is. Sorry you got your feelings hurt but thats the truth and you are a big boy now.
Virginia was the only team to give Georgia a match this year, and they did it twice. The only positions where Georgia was clearly better was #4/#5 singles and #3 doubles.
They have essentially everyone coming back, plus they may add 1 or possibly two guys (between now and Jan.) that could contribute in the top 6.
Depending on how a few things work out, Next year's Virginia team could be close in talent level to this year's Georgia team.
They'll likely start as the favorite, though the Gators will be right there too.
Just remember, there's a lot that could happen in a year.
Totally agree, not only can alot happen in 1 year, lots can happen in 3 months.
Georgia will be strong but losing Isner will be huge. Anything after this year will be a disappointment, don't you think??
Virgina will be tough no question, but don't look for them to add a big name anytime soon.
Florida went to the rd of 16's this year with essentially not much depth at 4-6. What the people are saying is that with Hochwalt, Hamui and Dadamo, those guys solidify that depth...and then some. Whoever bashed Tyler is an idiot.
When do pre-season ITA rankings come out? Predictions anybody for top five?
Virginia
Georgia
Illinois
Florida
Ohio State
yeah i would like to see whoever said that about hochwalt say who they are because i doubt they would stand a chance against him. he is a good recruit that many colleges would be plenty happy to have
I thought Vahid Mirzadeh was heading to Florida next year as well, is he not?
Vahid signed a letter of intent to play for the Gators in January. I'm pretty sure he was enrolled in school, but decided to turn pro instead.
BTW, anyone who thinks Florida won't be a top 10 team, if Hochwalt plays higher than 6, is freaking insane. They were pretty close to top 10 this year, with some really big wins, with absolutely nothing at the bottom of the lineup. No offense to Barton, Cash, Dolberg and Mulligan, but Hamui, Dadamo and Hochwalt are miles better and will instantly give Florida a loaded and deep team. All that will be lacking is some experience at the college and SEC level, but I think they'll be fine and by May of next year, I'd be shocked if Florida isn't one of the serious contenders for the national title. Assuming Levine returns, all the recruits do come to school and everyone stays healthy.
that would be a no on Mirzadeh, not eligible...i think thats why they got Hamui
I have been a daily reader of zootennis for gosh...as long as its been around I think. I read all the posts as well and I find it unusual that the readers log the most posts (10-20+) when there is a discussion or article about something to do with Kellen, Nate, Jamie, Squeak and Hochwalt..affectionately known as the Roddick boys.
Why is that? People bantered back and forth about Nate and Jamie, what position they'd play at Georgia...if they played at all. We've heard about Kellen...his injuries, behavior, his Grand slam titles. Then there was the attack on Squeak because of a bad performance at who knows what tournament and that he didn't deserve some seeding at the Zoo and now someone says that Hochwalt isn't good enough to make the team at Florida.
Let me tell you why I think they get so much attention. Becuz there won't be a group like them ever again and theres a ton of people out there that are so freakin jealous they can't hardly stand it. So the only way they deal with this jealousy is a personal attack about something they have no clue about.
Some players would have given their playing arm to be a part of that group...if only for awhile. These guys walked into a tournament and they OWNED it, it was a sight for sore eyes...sometimes ears.
The boys collectively had attitude, talent, spirit, heart, smarts, incredible physical ability, integrity and sportsmanship. (Not all of them had them all!!) Because of these attributes, Roddick hand selected them and helped to mold them into the top kids in the country and the world. There is no arguing that point.
Nate and Jamie have proven themselves in their new arena of college tennis, Kellen and Tyler will have their go in a few months, Squeak to follow.
OK so Rhynne Williams, Ryan Thacher and Boyajian get their fair share of posts too, but that is because....they too are incredibly talented.
Simply, these guys are good. Respect it.
How does Florida afford all these players? Hamui, Hochwalt, and Hamui have to all be getting around 75%. Is someone not on scholarship or something?
Who does Illinois lose for next year, anyone?
Last time I checked college tennis was loaded with foreigners and these recruiting classes don't take that into account. There are teams listed in the top 10 recruiting classes here that wont even compare to some of the lesser known schools who bring in 2 or 3 good foreign players and i guarantee you some will be better than the Gators recruiting class. Tyler Hochwalt is a solid recruit but for a would be top 10 school?? Think he will play but no higher than 5 or 6 or they wont contend. Should help doubles though.
CLEARLY you havent seen hochwalt play singles enough...the dude is a baller. doubles on the other hand, could be a little iffy. lets just say he'll learn a lot about how to play doubles when he is down at school. florida will contend for the title next year and hochwalt will be FINE at whatever position he does play...most likely it will be 3 or 4
Hochwalt will probably play either 4-6 next year and do exceptionally well. Its ridiculous to say that "lesser known" schools bring in better recruiting classes than that of Florida's. The only schools that aren't on that lists that are known for bringing in good foreign recruiting classes are schools like Baylor, Miami, Pepperdine, Ole Miss, and UCLA and I wouldn't call those programs lesser known. But still all of those programs would take Florida's recruiting class in a heart beat. And barring something very odd (and Levine is there) Florida will be top 10 considering they were 16 this year and won a very low percentage of matches at 4-6, which will increase exponentially because of their Freshman class.
Nobody slammed Hochwalt or said he wasn't a good player. I said if he played higher than 6 they wouldn't be a top 10 team. Thats an opinion I stick by and believe until I see differently. As for the Roddick boys they were a very good group but they didn't go to any tournament and own it. A couple of the better ones Schnugg. Hunt Damico won alot but I don't recall the rest of that group winning a whole lot of anything. Again I think he is a very good player but not as good as you guys are making him out to be.
The Roddick boys owned a lot...in 05' Damico started the year by winning a Grade 1, then Hochwalt won clay courts singles and dubs, then Schnugg won the zoo singles and dubs beating Hochwalt and Hamui in the finals. And dont forget about Hochwalt's gutsy Legg-Mason performance where no one expected him to win a set, let alone two matches. I love it how people sometimes just write stuff without knowing what has happened in the past or what is going on in the present. If Hochwalt doesnt play higher than 6, who do you expect to play in front of him considering that the Gators struggled at 4-6 Mr. know it all?
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