Logical reason to play college tennis? True story.

[Tennis2349]

Junior tennis has changed since my day, and I am looking for logical reasons so many spend so much time with this goal in mind ?

One change is the marketing. Almost all academies heavily push their program to 10 year olds talking about “college tennis” and scholarships. None of them make it.

Kids go through Tournaments, utr, rankings, training, money, rarely a day off etc.

Now for other college sports, this makes sense. The typical football and basketball player sees this as a way to a free education they other wise could not afford. A way “out of the hood”.

For many girls sports it is a “not as hard” way to get a free education. Field hockey, softball, rowing. Not as much competition or expense.

Even for foreign tennis players this makes sense, as it is a pathway to leave their country, a green card, and ultimately American citizenship.

Now for Americans to compete, they home school or reclass. To me this is already extreme and unnatural.

Once playing D1 many say you need an easier major. And before that, often times less time consuming high school classes. So you are basically learning less as well.

So I know a blue chip American. He did get a tennis offer! Top 50 in all of the USA. What did this amazing player get for 12 years of hard work?

A 0,30,60,60 offer! Sounds great! Until you realize the out of state D1 public university costs about 90k a year after it is all said and done.

So after achieving what I would consider being elite, he can spend about 250k for a BA.

My Nextdoor neighbor who did not play any sport will attend GA tech basically for free.

So it’s not just about me saying “3 stars should play D1”, it’s to the point where being a blue chip means little to nothing.

So besides “fun” what are the tangible benefits to playing D1 college tennis?

 

[SavvyStringer]

That "blue chip" kid must be attempting to go to a very strong academic institution, have a real character problem, be at the very top end of their potential based on coaches evaluations, or not actually be a very strong junior outside of the USTA system. There are a litany of reasons a kid that is supposedly that talented may not receive offers. But there is also zero chance that if they were a legitimate blue chip talent level that they couldn't at a minimum go mid-major on a full. Yes the international players that have high ITF rankings and results tend to get the bulk of scholarships now, but there are still plenty of places for top end American kids to go for free. On the women's side in particular every women's scholarship player is a full scholarship. There are plenty of schools offering full rides to 8 girls a year that would easily give one to a 4 star American.

The benefit similar to other college sports is the network the develop and if they're willing to teach tennis, most lineup players for any D1 team can get a respectable teaching job that will pay them more than the American average right out of the gate. They also tend to get really high quality truly career advancing useful internships during the summers that many "regular" students don't. Particularly in the financial sector that tend to lead to high quality jobs and opportunities after graduation.

Edit: Forgot to mention, some schools have sister state tuition. It's a weird thing and sometimes major dependent but a 60% scholarship may actually be a full by the time it all comes out in the wash from the bursars office. 60% of the out of state rate often translates to very close to 100% of in state.

 

[Tennis2349]

Yes. It’s a good academic institution.

I don’t know many other blue chips, but I assumed the red carpet would be rolled out for them.

Is there a place that actually says what players get towards scholarships? Or is that private info?

I also read the number of full scholarships for men was increased to 10 starting in 2025. But I guess that doesn’t pertain to all D1 schools?

 

[ClarkC]

I remember when Andre Dome was about a #10 blue chip and went to Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo. I was guessing he got a full scholarship offer and turned down the bigger tennis schools. Wanted to get a good STEM degree for free. Unlikely to ever be a successful pro player, so it seemed like a smart decision.

A couple of decades ago, I recall a lower blue chip player from northern Virginia (last name Lynch, IIRC) who turned down UVA to get a much better offer from Penn State. Played #1 on a much lesser team, got his degree without a lot of debt, seemed happy when he was discussing it in his senior year.

Other players CHOOSE not to do such a thing in favor of going to a better tennis team, and they (or their parents) have to pay more as a result. Freedom of choice works that way.

 

[ClarkC]

I also read the number of full scholarships for men was increased to 10 starting in 2025. But I guess that doesn’t pertain to all D1 schools?

If the proposed House settlement is approved, the scholarship limit will equal the roster limit, which will be 10 for both men's and women's teams. What will athletic departments actually fund? Who knows at this point. Some of the new limits are absurdly high and no athletic department will fund the maximum. But many will fund close to 10 for tennis and 9 for golf.

Yahoo News story

 

[Tennis2349]

If the proposed House settlement is approved, the scholarship limit will equal the roster limit, which will be 10 for both men's and women's teams. What will athletic departments actually fund? Who knows at this point. Some of the new limits are absurdly high and no athletic department will fund the maximum. But many will fund close to 10 for tennis and 9 for golf.

Yahoo News story

I am just thinking IF someone is good enough to represent the school in a sport, and it takes probably 20 hours a week, and took them 10 years of hard work to get to that point, they should get a full ride. And as I said, they probably need a less challenging degree as well.

They don’t have the oppurtunity to earn money any other way as all of their time is involved with that sport for the school plus travel.

So i was surprised that a blue chip isn’t getting a full ride anywhere he chooses. I mean this is top 50 in the entire United States. Just wondering if that is the norm because the competition from abroad has increased that much.

 

[ClarkC]

Blue chips are top 25. Confusing as to what your friend is actually ranked.

 

[SavvyStringer]

I am just thinking IF someone is good enough to represent the school in a sport, and it takes probably 20 hours a week, and took them 10 years of hard work to get to that point, they should get a full ride. And as I said, they probably need a less challenging degree as well.

They don’t have the oppurtunity to earn money any other way as all of their time is involved with that sport for the school plus travel.

So i was surprised that a blue chip isn’t getting a full ride anywhere he chooses. I mean this is top 50 in the entire United States. Just wondering if that is the norm because the competition from abroad has increased that much.

Top 50 in the US and could very well still be 200 ITF or higher. There is so much talent internationally. It's a simple math problem. US total population is only 4.2% of the world population. There are way more international juniors than American juniors. Some players are physically limited but have an incredible junior and college game that won't necessarily carry to the pros. See Noah Rubin. One of the best collegiate players I have ever seen in person his FRESHMAN year. It was unbelievable. Couldn't maintain inside 100 in the pros. There are absolutely Noah's of junior tennis that dominate in juniors but that's the top for them.

As for the 10 scholarships, schools still have to fund those. Some schools will have them, others won't I suspect you'll see a few random mid-majors that become perennial top 10-15 teams as a result of having the money to buy teams. See MSU right now. Their NIL ability is incredible for a school that hasn't been a "tennis" school prior to the last couple years. While they may be ranked about 15 right now, no one actually wants to play them. Super dangerous team.

 

[Tennis2349]

it was my mistake. Player fluctuated from 20-45 in nation so might have been a 5 star.

Sadly that’s how it seems. When a junior has to compete with the entire world for limited spots jn his home nation, and has nowhere else to go, the writing is on the wall. Focus more on grades as a better path towards the future.

As for talent, I agree. The kid is 17. He is competing for spots against foreign former professionals that are now 21-24 year old freshman. So being a top junior isn’t that special.

 

[Golden_state_of_mind]

You did not need to make a third thread on this tired subject