Greatest college players of all time

[NLBwell]

Pancho Segura.
His biography is a pretty interesting read.

[Don't Let It Bounce]

Somdev Devvarman was in three straight NCAA finals, winning the second and third. One of those years he beat Isner in the finals. (I realize, of course, that doesn't eliminate Isner from consideration.) He went 44-1 one year, too.

I'm not knowledgeable enough of college tennis to say those achievements are the bottom line, but they are the most impressive I know of.

[floridatennisdude]

I think, as in any GOAT argument, you'll never get a consensus #1. What I would like to see, is who we believe are the top 5 or 10 college players ever. You'll probably get less arguments if you name a group, in no particular order.

I'd go with...

Steve Johnson
Somdev Devarrman
Matias Boeker
Bob Bryan
Alex O'Brien
Mikael Pernfors
Denis Ralston
Stan Smith
Hamilton Richardson
Francisco Seguro

...As a list of 10 names that have to be in the discussion. I'm just pulling 1 per generation for the most part of players that had a run of dominance.

[josofo]

john mcenroe

he made it to semis of Wimbledon either when he was in college or before he went

[floridatennisdude]

Originally Posted by josofo

john mcenroe

he made it to semis of Wimbledon either when he was in college or before he went

It was before college, but he only played 1 year of college tennis. I have a hard time putting him in the top 10 of all time college players when he only played 1 season.

[bluetrain4]

Originally Posted by josofo

john mcenroe

he made it to semis of Wimbledon either when he was in college or before he went

McEnroe will all depend on what we mean by "greatest" college tennis player. Do we mean "greatest" as in "best", i.e., the best tennis player (based on all their results, college and non-college and overall skill level) to ever step foot on a college tennis court, or the "greatest" based based solely on what he acheived in college - titles (singles, doubles and team), dominant seasons, overall record, etc. The thread seems to be trending towards the latter.

[BHSC]

I would put Devvarman and Johnson together along with Pernfors.

Devvarman beat Isner twice within a few days down in Athens in the 2007 NCAAs. He first beat him in straight sets in the NCAA team Semifinals. Remember, that 2007 Georgia team was considered one of the greatest of all time. Then, he beat him again in their classic 3 set Singles Final.

Pretty impressive to beat your top rival in a hostile environment on his home courts. Especially when you do it twice within a week.

Also keep in mind that Devvarman beat Kevin Anderson in the semifinals in the Athens NCAAs (after beating him earlier in the season).

Anderson is currently a top 30 pro.

Johnson really didn't have a rival to speak of who could push him.

Devvarman's only loss that year was in the Tulsa wind. I don't believe Johnson ever won the All-American event.

While Devvarman's teams didn't accomplish what Johnson's did, it wasn't because of Devvarman. I believe he won every singles match in the NCAAs at least his junior and senior years.

3 straight NCAA singles Finals is a tough stat to accomplish

Originally Posted by Don't Let It Bounce

Somdev Devvarman was in three straight NCAA finals, winning the second and third. One of those years he beat Isner in the finals. (I realize, of course, that doesn't eliminate Isner from consideration.) He went 44-1 one year, too.

I'm not knowledgeable enough of college tennis to say those achievements are the bottom line, but they are the most impressive I know of.

[floridatennisdude]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Johnson only dropped 2 sets all year? I get that he didn't have a rival who could push him. But, is that his fault? Wasn't he just that much better than everyone?

I agree that Devarman was remarkable and I don't want to say that Johnson was better or anything. No one will ever know.

This rivalry issue just bugs me a little. Like when Fed was destroying the field, folks would say he played in a weak era. How does anyone know that? Would it have been better to drop a few matches to someone just to build up a rivalry? Nonsense. Beat em all.

[treeman10]

.........................

[BHSC]

Originally Posted by floridatennisdude

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Johnson only dropped 2 sets all year? I get that he didn't have a rival who could push him. But, is that his fault? Wasn't he just that much better than everyone?

I agree that Devarman was remarkable and I don't want to say that Johnson was better or anything. No one will ever know.

This rivalry issue just bugs me a little. Like when Fed was destroying the field, folks would say he played in a weak era. How does anyone know that? Would it have been better to drop a few matches to someone just to build up a rivalry? Nonsense. Beat em all.

What both Johnson/Devvarman accomplished in college is amazing. I don't want to say that one is better than the other.

The main rivals that Devvarman was beating in college (Kevin Anderson and Isner) have both ended up reaching the top 30 level as pros.

Johnson should be a successful pro, maybe even top 30 himself. Guys who have recently dominated at the college level seem to have done well in the pros.

As you mention, Johnson was head and shoulders above his competition. I'm just saying that I'm not sure any of the rivals Johnson played are destined for the top 50 or even the top 100. (Maybe Klahn if he can stay healthy). That's certainly not Johnson's fault. That 2007 season (Jesse Levine goes in there too) simply happened to be pretty special as far as the talent in college.

[atatu]

Paul Goldstein, I think he was the first player to be on four NCAA championship teams, he played #1 singles for Stanford in '98 and I think he was undefeated. He made the finals of the singles tournament that year but lost to Bob Bryan.

[bluetrain4]

Originally Posted by atatu

Paul Goldstein, I think he was the first player to be on four NCAA championship teams, he played #1 singles for Stanford in '98 and I think he was undefeated. He made the finals of the singles tournament that year but lost to Bob Bryan.

But, Steve Johnson did that AND won two singles titles.

[atatu]

Originally Posted by bluetrain4

But, Steve Johnson did that AND won two singles titles.

Right, just saying Goldstein should be on the list, also think Dan Nguyen from USC should be up there, for his clutch play.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by floridatennisdude

I think, as in any GOAT argument, you'll never get a consensus #1. What I would like to see, is who we believe are the top 5 or 10 college players ever. You'll probably get less arguments if you name a group, in no particular order.

I'd go with...

Steve Johnson
Somdev Devarrman
Matias Boeker
Bob Bryan
Alex O'Brien
Mikael Pernfors
Stan Smith
Hamilton Richardson
Francisco Seguro.

As collegiate players, Alex Olmedo and Denis Ralston achieved more than any of those other names. Ralston won the Wimbledon and US Open doubles while still in college as well as playing Davis Cup and winning back-to-back NCAA singles titles. Olmedo won the NCAA singles in 56 and 58 but would probably have won it in 57 if USC hadn't been barred. He won the US Open singles in 58 and was runner-up in the mixed that year.

I would also say that Connors and McEnroe winning the NCAA singles title in their freshman year is a far more impressive feat than Johnson winning it in his last year or even last two years. Connors and McEnroe were so outstanding as college players there wasn't any point in them hanging around beyond the first year; they were playing top level, pro calibre tennis as freshmen. The same can't be said for Johnson, Devarrman or any of the other guys. They certainly accumulated fantastic records but that doesn't make them the best college players of all time.

[SStrikerR]

Originally Posted by Clemson_tennis

This is about strictly their college careers

From the OP. From this, I take it the criteria is accomplishments in college. Therefore, while Mcenroe may have been a better player in college than someone like Johnson, he loses because he didn't play enough years to accumulate achievements.

[whoopinstick]

K.J. Hippensteel from Sanford. He played back in the late 90's early 2000's.
-won the NCAA doubles in 99
-Team champion in 2000
-NCAA singles semifinal 2000
-ITA all american tournament 99 and 02
-four time all american
-ranked #1 his sophmore and senior years

He doesn't get much credit and is often forgotten because he came in right after the bryans brothers but is worth mentioning.

[barringer97]

Rick Leach was pretty damn good.

Leach became the first four-time Division 1 All-American in singles and doubles at the University of Southern California

[ashicks]

I belive that he won back to back National Jr. College singles titles at Seminole Jr. College before transferring to University of Ga where he also won back to back NCAA singles titles.

[10isDad]

Time to broaden the discussion to D-III and Matt Seeberger of the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. From the Slugs website:
"Matt Seeberger rewrote the record book by winning back to back NCAA singles titles in his freshman and sophomore seasons. In 2005 he did it all by leading the team to the NCAA Team Championship and then won the NCAA singles title and the doubles championship with partner Matt Brunner to cap a triple crown at home. In 2006 Matt won the Fall ITA Small College National Singles Championship and his second NCAA National Doubles Championship with partner Shane Templeman. In 2007 Seeberger turned the record book upside down by claiming his second triple crown. After winning the team title he won his third singles NCAA Singles Championship and then won his third NCAA National Doubles Championship with partner Max Ortiz. "

[db379]

Originally Posted by BHSC

What both Johnson/Devvarman accomplished in college is amazing. I don't want to say that one is better than the other.

The main rivals that Devvarman was beating in college (Kevin Anderson and Isner) have both ended up reaching the top 30 level as pros.

Johnson should be a successful pro, maybe even top 30 himself. Guys who have recently dominated at the college level seem to have done well in the pros.

As you mention, Johnson was head and shoulders above his competition. I'm just saying that I'm not sure any of the rivals Johnson played are destined for the top 50 or even the top 100. (Maybe Klahn if he can stay healthy). That's certainly not Johnson's fault. That 2007 season (Jesse Levine goes in there too) simply happened to be pretty special as far as the talent in college.

You guys may be interested in this thread regarding transition from college to pro level...
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=447027

The stats give an indication of what top college players may expect if they decide to go pro.