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Men's Tennis 2008 Recruiting Class Ranked Fifth

May 28, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The incoming quartet of Casey Watt, Samuel Keeton, Daven Brodess and Niall Fitzgerald comprise the No. 5 overall recruiting class in the nation according to TennisRecruiting.net.

Watt (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine Richland H.S.) is considered a blue chip prospect by the service. He is currently rated as the No. 6 player in the latest TennisRPI rankings and No. 9 in the College Recruiting List rankings. Watt is the top rated player from both the state of Pennsylvania and Middle Atlantic region. He has registered a 53-11 overall record over the last calendar year, including an impressive 29-11 mark against other blue chip and five-star rated players.

Keeton (Kansas City, Mo./Pembroke Hill H.S.) is listed as a five-star recruit by the service. He is currently rated as the No. 24 player in the latest TennisRPI rankings and No. 26 in the College Recruiting List rankings. Keeton is the top rated player from the state of Missouri and No. 2 player from the Plains region. He has registered a 55-17 overall record over the last calendar year, including an impressive 20-4 mark against other five-star rated players.

Brodess (Austin, Texas/World of Tennis) is considered a four-star prospect by the site. He is currently rated as the No. 81 player in the latest TennisRPI rankings and No. 104 in the College Recruiting List rankings. Brodess is the No. 10 rated player from the state of Texas and No. 14 player from the Gulf States region. He has registered a 54-26 overall record over the last calendar year, including an impressive 31-7 mark against other four-star and three-star rated players.

As an international recruit, Fitzgerald (Ireland) is not included in the rankings.

The Tennis Recruiting Network has enlisted the aid of junior tennis experts to determine the top classes. Reporters, national and international tournament directors, referees, ranking chairmen and writers from across the country have donated their time and talents to vote on these top classes. Panelists for this voting period are shown below.

Each of the panelists submitted his/her take on the Top 25 recruiting classes. Schools received 25 points for each first-place vote, 24 points for each second-place vote, on down to 1 point for each 25th-place vote. The panelists were told not to consider incoming transfer students in their voting.

The panelists for this voting period are shown below alphabetically.

Joseph Braden, Director of Tennis at Schwartz Tennis Center, USTA/Midwest Tournament Director.

Adam Carey, Director of Tennis Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, Former NCAA Division I Head Coach, Nevada Tennis Junior Competition Committee.

Gene Gandy, Florida Competitive Junior Tennis Council, National Open Tournament Director, Tallahassee Competitive Junior Tennis.

Sally Grabham, National Tournament Director, USTA Winter Nationals, Southwest Section and Central Arizona Board of Directors, Southwest Section Volunteer and Advocacy Committee.

Marty Hennessy, Director of Tennis at The Stirling Club, 35 year USPTA professional, National Tournament Director

Larry Jackson, Director, Dayton Center Courts and Tennis Academy, National Tournament Director

Adam Jasick, Director of Tennis-Miller Tennis Center, National Tournament Director, PTR National Tester and Clinician, USA Tennis High Performance Coaching Program Graduate

Ernie Katko, Director of Herrmann Tennis Academy, USTA High Performance Coach, USPTA, USPTR

Patty Lambropoulos, Junior Tennis Coordinator, College Park Athletic Club, National Tournament Director, Chicago District Board of Director and Endorser, Midwest Junior Competion Committee.

Colette Lewis, ZooTennis.com, USTA Hardcourts

Marc Lucero, Contributor to TennisRecruiting.net, Former Princeton assistant tennis coach

Phil Parrish, Tennis Director, The Longfellow Club, National Tournament Director, Former College Coach

Robert Sasseville, National Tournament Director, USTA National Referee

Jeffrey Szekely, Former National Tournament Director, USTA Clay Courts

Clayton Taylor, Tennis Director, The Atlantic Club, National Tournament Director

Julie Wrege, TennisInformation.com, TennisRecruiting.net, National Tournament Director, former USTA ranking chair

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