- Senior Spotlight: Hampton Drake

Hampton Drake Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina College Commitment: Clemson University   Hampton has been a member of the academy for the past three years. He moved from Columbia to be in an environment with high level players and top coaches which would be more conducive to helping him become a better player. These factors combined with the hard work that Hampton has put in, proved to be a catalyst for him becoming one of the top players in the nation … read more

- Honajzer Commits to NYU

Jiri Honajzer has committed to play tennis for New York University (NYU) starting in the fall of 2014. Jiri moved to the academy two years ago from the Czech Republic and has shown a great desire to succeed in both his tennis and academics. He is an extremely hard worker and a very respectful and coachable student who is eager to learn. An aggressive all court player with a strong forehand, Jiri is sure to help NYU have success throughout … read more

- Eight Standout Seniors Make Early College Commitments

Smith Stearns would like to announce the early college commitments for eight students from our senior class. They are a fantastic group of kids who have worked so hard to achieve their goals of playing collegiate tennis and we are very proud of all of them. They come from diverse backgrounds and all have a special story of how they got to where they are today. Congratulations to all!       Hampton Drake  – Clemson University Hampton has committed … read more

- Senior Spotlight: Perry Williams

Hometown: Charleston, West Virginia College Commitment: Otterbein University   Perry’s background in tennis is a lot different than most players going to compete at the college level. He started playing competitively at age 17 and knew that time was of the essence if he wanted to raise his level high enough to play college tennis. For most people, this would not have been possible, but Perry found a winning combination. He met Billy Stearns on a trip to Hilton Head … read more

- Senior Spotlight: Margaret Anne Smith

Hometown: Singapore College Commitment: Carnegie Mellon University   After spending a few weeks the past several summers at the academy, Margaret Anne decided to come full-time her senior year to help improve her game and prepare herself for college tennis. Coming all the way from Singapore was a big transition but the welcoming nature of the coaches and players made Margaret Anne feel at home right away. She credits the coaches with their knowledge and insightful instruction in helping her … read more

- Senior Spotlight: Juan Sheppard

Hometown: Greenwich, Connecticut College Commitment: Furman University   Juan came to the academy to visit during his freshman year of high school and immediately knew that this was a place he could call home. He loved the location being on a great island, and immediately connected with the coaches and the players. Juan’s outgoing personality helped him quickly transition into living in a new environment. He became a fast favorite among coaches and developed strong connections with many players as … read more

- Senior Spotlight: Andrew Schafer

Hometown: Frederick, Maryland College Commitment: University of South Carolina   Andrew moved to the academy three years ago from Maryland to obtain a high level of tennis and coaching. For the past 3 years he has been an important part of the academy, always setting great examples to the other students through his tenacious work ethic, dedication, and sportsmanship both on and off the court. He is looked up by many for his success and continues to be an excellent … read more

- Senior Spotlight: Barbara Rodriguez

Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela College Commitment: Boston University     Almost three years ago, a big decision was made in Barbara’s life. She moved all the way to Hilton Head from Caracas, Venezuela with her mother and sister so she could pursue her tennis and her sister, Clementina, could pursue her golf. The decision to come to Smith Stearns was made easier because everyone made Barbara feel at home right away. It also gave her the opportunity to live in a … read more

- Senior Spotlight: Jimmy Lange

Hometown: Peachtree City, Georgia College Commitment: George Mason University   During the summer before his sophomore year of high school, Jimmy set out looking for a full time tennis academy that would be a good fit for him and the goals he had set forth for himself. He immediately fell in love with Smith Stearns and knew that he could find a new home here. He moved into academy housing a month after his initial visit and starting off on … read more

- Senior Spotlight: Christian Harris

Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee College Commitment: Clemson University     After spending weeks at a time training at Smith Stearns as a guest and getting to know the coaches, Christian knew that the academy felt like home. He moved with his family three years ago to further pursue his tennis goals. From day one, Christian demonstrated many great qualities needed to succeed in this tough sport and the coaches knew his future would be a bright one. Every day he comes … read more