University of Georgia Team Page
ATHENS-----Two tennis standouts will enroll at the University of Georgia in January and join the men's tennis program, head coach Manuel Diaz announced Friday. Paul Oosterbaan of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Wayne Montgomery of Johannesburg, South Africa, will be eligible to play for the Bulldogs immediately.
"We are excited to have Paul and Wayne join our program," Diaz said. "Both of these kids will be tremendous assets to our program. We foresee a great future for these guys, and I think they will do great things here at Georgia."
Montgomery has won multiple South African and African Junior titles in singles and doubles and has represented South Africa internationally in team and individual events. He has been a member of the ITF junior touring teams each year since the age of 13 and also participated at the Junior Davis Cup in Mexico in 2010 and 2011.
Montgomery reached a career high ITF U-18 world ranking of No. 7 earlier this year. He has won ITF junior circuit tournaments in Gaberone, Port Elizabeth, East London, Montreal (doubles), Potchefstroom (singles and doubles), Traralgon (doubles), and Maryland (singles and doubles). His reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open and the Australian Open as well as the doubles semifinals at Wimbledon.
"Wayne is definitely an impact player," Diaz said. "He has a terrific record competing across the globe and has reached numerous milestones with some phenomenal wins. We expect him to be a huge contributor immediately. Wayne is a gritty and intelligent player, and we are thrilled to have him."
Oosterbaan, who stands at 6-foot-8, earned a wild card into the main draw at the 2013 U.S. Open by winning the boys 18s doubles title at the USTA National Championship earlier this year in Kalamazoo. His other wins include the Clay Court doubles, boys 16s Winter Nationals singles, Lexington grade 4 ITF singles and the USTA 18s National Open.
Oosterbaan has been ranked as high as No. 8 by tennisrecruiting.net and was ranked No. 2 in the country in boys 16s. His father, JP, was a member of the 1989 University of Michigan men's basketball national championship team.
"I was immediately impressed when I saw Paul play a year and a half ago," Diaz said. "He competes with such great passion, and he reminds me of John Isner because of his size and natural talent. He will be one of the top American juniors nationally this coming year and we believe he will quickly become one of the top players in college tennis in the future. "
Georgia's spring 2014 roster will include two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen. The Bulldogs will open the spring season at the Georgia Tech Invitational Jan. 17-20.
