Squad... pic.twitter.com/zWT6sVbXoX
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) May 5, 2017
The initial recruiting class has been tabbed as the No. 5 class in the country.
That moment when someone ranks your first recruiting as fifth-best in the nation @jeffmetcalfe @asufoundation pic.twitter.com/61zc2rraYB
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) May 22, 2017
Yes, it has international flair, but there is a reason for that.
"Understandably some will look at our roster and think there should be more American kids on it," Hill acknowledges. "I'm excited about this program moving forward in the American market, but on the American side they commit so early that once we got the job, 80-plus percent of the people we'd recruit had already committed and signed. We realized that if we were going to put a team together that's good we were going to have to go outside the United States for now. Luckily, tennis is such a global sport that we really were able to find some talented players."
The mix of five international prospects and two American prospects garnered the 2017 class three votes as the number one class in the nation.
With the help of assistant coach Michael Kokta, Matt Hill traveled all over the world to sign the reinstated program's first recruiting class in eight years. The Sun Devils class is the only one in the tennisrecruiting.net Top 25 that boast six international prospects, two more than the class with the second most international prospects, the University of Miami who came in at No. 15 in the Spring Rankings.
Arizona State was one of five Pac-12 schools in the Top-25, coming in as the third best class in the conference behind No. 1 California and No. 3 UCLA.
Here is a look at some of the roster, with quotes from Coach Hill.
SENIOR MICHAEL GEERTS
"He's incredibly fast around the court, he has a big serve and he's one of the best ball strikers I've ever been around."
FRESHMAN BENJAMIN HANNESTADLET'S "GEERT" AFTER IT!
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) June 2, 2017
As in Michael Geerts, part of our top-five recruiting class. Check out what Coach Hill has to say about him. pic.twitter.com/MVYdpOqzev
"He's one of best players in the world for his age and he's done pretty well in the limited pro tournaments he has played. He has a great all-around game, he's a great athlete with a super high ceiling because he's super disciplined."
SOPHOMORE THOMAS WRIGHTALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS!! Well, OK, this Benjamin.
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) June 2, 2017
What Coach Hill has to say about Benjamin Hannestad, part of our top-5 recruiting class. pic.twitter.com/2WT650rkTN
"He is so raw and that's really because he was too good for his area. It's been hard for him, for the first time, being around people who can push him, but he has huge upside. He's a righty with a beautiful, world-class, one-handed backhand. He has incredible power."
The Wright Stuff! Meet another member of our top-five recruiting class. @TTomWrighty is a Sun Devil and will be on the court next year. pic.twitter.com/0LpYexbsPq
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) June 2, 2017
SOPHOMORE MANDRESY RAKOTOMALALA
"He is top 5 in the world but the French Federation doesn't support kids once they get to that age. With our sport, at 18, 19, they're just not ready so he was smart enough to understand he needed some help. He has a huge serve and forehand -- a big game and he's really aggressive."
FRESHMAN WILLIAM KIRKMANYOU THE MAN!
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) June 2, 2017
Well, actually the Mandresy, as in Mandresy Rakotomalala, part of our top-five recruiting class. pic.twitter.com/AXy5aG7Xgb
"He has a really big serve and a monster forehand but he plays great defense and scraps really well."
Can't wait to see @WilliamKirkman on the courts for us next year! What Coach Hill has to say about him. pic.twitter.com/zR02Jb2LMc
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) June 2, 2017
The Sun Devils class was rounded out by late additions Andrea Bolla from Italy and local prospect Carsyn Smith from Scottsdale.