Best countries to get college players from?

[Vicious Vik]

Excluding America, what are the countries you would go after if you were a head coach? What are the best ones for college players?


Germany seems to be the best non American country for college players. German people look at the USA for college as more of an option than say Spain or France who have more tennis players but less college players.

I would go after India. Indian players are typically quick movers, which can drive college players insane because they are not as consistent as the pros. I would delve into India.

Also I would try and unlock Argentina. A motherload of great young players but they all seem to go pro and then eventually come up with nothing. There are a lot of players but hardly any college players from that country( I can think of one). A coach needs to introduce families down there to the concept of American college systems and how good of an option it is. It can become just as bountiful for colleges as Brazil is now.

Also South Korea. Lots of players willing to learn English and come over here but the coaches have not picked up on it yet.

 

[JLyon]

Czech Republic is huge on the ladies side.
For Guys Sweden has tons of Depth.
Brazil is a good source as well.

 

[Clemson_tennis]

who's the Argentine. Only one I can think of is Facundo Lugones of TCU

 

[goran_ace]

Friend of mine who was #1 on the women's team used to comment about the number of times she had to play against opponents with an 'ova' last name

 

[bluetrain4]

Friend of mine who was #1 on the women's team used to comment about the number of times she had to play against opponents with an 'ova' last name

But, an "ova" last name could be from any number of different countries.

 

[goran_ace]

But, an "ova" last name could be from any number of different countries.

Yeah I know, just saying that there's no shortage of female college tennis players from eastern Europe.

On the male side it seems like I ran into a ton of guys from Spanish speaking countries.

 

[floridatennisdude]

I'm partial to Brazilians. I've also liked a few Aussies as well as some others from eastern Europe.

I don't think there is a singular country to bank on. It's good to cast a wide net over Europe and South America. If you can make good contacts in Asia and the Pacific Islands...even better.

 

[Dawgie Dawg]

ask Manny Diaz

 

[Tennishacker]

Where are the Asian players?

 

[SoCal10s]

Where are the Asian players?

There's some Filipinos ,Indians,Thais ,and a Hong Kong guy out there...I haven't seen too many Japanese and Chinese ,I guess they have their eyes on pros..

 

[floridatennisdude]

There's some Filipinos ,Indians,Thais ,and a Hong Kong guy out there...I haven't seen too many Japanese and Chinese ,I guess they have their eyes on pros..

Good Chinese female player on UVAs roster

 

[Tennishacker]

There's some Filipinos ,Indians,Thais ,and a Hong Kong guy out there...I haven't seen too many Japanese and Chinese ,I guess they have their eyes on pros..

Why is it that the vast majority of foreign recruits are from Eastern Europe in the womens college game?

 

[floridatennisdude]

Why is it that the vast majority of foreign recruits are from Eastern Europe in the womens college game?

1) they want to come here
2) they are good players
3) they are smart students

 

[Clemson_tennis]

Why is it that the vast majority of foreign recruits are from Eastern Europe in the womens college game?

It's the most popular sport for women in that part of the world by far.

 

[db379]

Germany seems to be the best non American country for college players. German people look at the USA for college as more of an option than say Spain or France who have more tennis players but less college players.

where do you get that from? I see quite a few french players in Div1 college. UCLA has 2 or 3 in the lineup in men and 1 in the women. Fresno St has their top player from France, Kentucky has one too. Not saying Germans are not playing in the US, I've seen a few too, but it doesn't seem they are the #1 recruits.

 

[rww]

get em from the most impoverished, war-torn, and desolate places on earth. they have the most desire to leave and succeed elsewhere just like on the pro tour

 

[ClarkC]

get em from the most impoverished, war-torn, and desolate places on earth. they have the most desire to leave and succeed elsewhere just like on the pro tour

OK, let's focus our recruiting efforts on Somalia and Afghanistan in that case.

 

[Tennishacker]

OK, let's focus our recruiting efforts on Somalia and Afghanistan in that case.

Does anybody know of any players from Africa playing D1 tennis, especially women tennis?

 

[Clemson_tennis]

Does anybody know of any players from Africa playing D1 tennis, especially women tennis?

UC Santa Barabara has a mens player from Zimbabwe

 

[floridatennisdude]

UC Santa Barabara has a mens player from Zimbabwe

Rare that you can get quality African players. Just look at Davis Cup...not a lot of competitive players from that part of the world right now.

South Africa may be a different story.

 

[floridatennisdude]

Does anybody know of any players from Africa playing D1 tennis, especially women tennis?

Only one I know of is the #1 from Winthrop, women's team. She is pretty good for a mid major, but probably wouldn't crack the lineup at a top25 school.

 

[JLyon]

Only one I know of is the #1 from Winthrop, women's team. She is pretty good for a mid major, but probably wouldn't crack the lineup at a top25 school.

#1 at Sam Houston State is from Namibia

 

[Clemson_tennis]

also Florida A&M mens has 3 I think.

I watched a tennis channel story on a player from Uganda a while back. He wanted to go play tennis in the USA. But he found out about all the obstacles and that he actually wasn't that good. He was the biggest deal in his country but comparative to other college players he wasn't that good. I think he ended up at New Mexico Highlands

 

[floridatennisdude]

Outside of the kid now at UCSB, none of the African players mentioned so far are really playing big time tennis.

 

[andfor]

Outside of the kid now at UCSB, none of the African players mentioned so far are really playing big time tennis.

Nik Scholtz at Ole Miss is from S. Africa. I'd say he's playing big time tennis.

 

[floridatennisdude]

Rare that you can get quality African players. Just look at Davis Cup...not a lot of competitive players from that part of the world right now.

South Africa may be a different story.

I hadn't looked at Ole Miss's roster, but yes...that is big time.

Hence, my above quoted post where I did say South Africa may be a different story from the rest of The continent.

 

[Clemson_tennis]

South Africa is diiferent. Especially if they are white. There is a tennis tradition there. When I refer to African players I mean central/west. So I am also not including North African arabs.

 

[TopDawg]

Georgia has had a few guys from Africa over the last 15 years. We currently have Hernus Pieters on the team from South Africa. A few years back we had Christian Vituli from Kenya. Vituli never quite reached his potential though and played at the bottom of the lineup. Back in the late 90s Hisham Hemada played #1 and he was from Cairo.

 

[Fedzie316]

There is a big representation of players from South Africa all over the country, There is quite a number in DIV 1. Grant Ive and Japie De Klerk from Tulsa, Damian Hume from Boise are some of the more well know ones this year.

 

[floridatennisdude]

I think we stated that South Africa is not what we are asking about. Obviously, there is wealth there & wealth usually results in quality tennis players. Excluding South Africa, we are asking if there is any steady talent coming out of the continent. Including South Africa would be like including Australia in the Pacific Islands.

 

[Clemson_tennis]

Hassan Ndayishimiye playing for Troy is from Burundi.
Tuki Jacobs for South Alabama is from Namibia.

 

[tennisw12]

benjamin lock florida state

 

[chris-swede]

in fact, all the english speaking countries in africa could produce college players if they are good enough for it

On the whole, sweden, great britain and australia allways produced great players, also germany.
Sweden has declined, so there are no real good players left, Cal has 3 of them, Ole Miss also, S.Freund is a freshman at LSU. In the past Landsberg, Aspelin, Hartman, Lindstedt, Calle Hansen, Toby Hansson, Arvid Puranen, Adam Holmstrom, A.Siljestrom all played great college tennis. And Mikael Pernfors in the far past.

 

[jaggy]

Have to include Ireland today

 

[SECFAN]

Germany, Sweden for sure on the men's side. Eastern Europe for women's teams.

 

[JLyon]

Czech Republic, Croatia, and of course Russia good finds

 

[chris-swede]

Also some dutch Girls.

 

[Startzel]

My favorite college team is loaded with French players so I'm biased.

 

[scout]

There are quite a lot of Australians, only a few in the top teams, Harris, Szabo, Wagland, Schipanski, but there are a lot scattered among lower ranked and I ranked teams. There is a ton of talent in Australia, however the governing body was not up to speed for a long time about what was needed academically for US college and so a lot of players were ineligible, or really had to struggle to get through the NCAA clearing house. Quite a lot of good players have also signed to management also making them ineligible.