Texas A&M Men’s Tennis Announces Signing Class
Sep 02, 2015 | Men's Tennis
COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M men's tennis head coach Steve Denton inked a five-member signing class that will join the program in 2015-16. Sam Giammalva, Henry Gordon, Oscar Janglin, Kevin Lam and Aleksandre Bakshi signed to play tennis with the Aggies. The group is made up of a trio of Americans and pair of distinguished players from Europe. The maroon and white class was ranked No. 13 nationally by tennisrecruiting.net.
Sam Giammalva hails from Houston, Texas graduating from the storied Memorial High School. The incoming freshman claimed the Class 6A boys' doubles crown last May at the Mitchell Tennis Center. The right-hander comes from a famous tennis family with his grandfather, father and uncle all having played professional tennis. Giammalva comes to College Station as a four-star prospect according to tennisrecruiting.net.
"Sam is big and very athletic and as you would expect very technically sound having grown up in a tennis family," Denton said. "I look forward to Sam being an integral part of our success as a team in the next several years. I look for Sam's game to skyrocket once he gets to work with our very talented group of players."
Henry Gordon is a native Californian, but spent the last two years at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Braunfels, TX. Like Giammalva, Gordon was raised in a tennis family as his father played professionally. The right-hander was rated as a five-star prospect by tennisrecruiting.net and ranked in the top-50 recruits in the 2015 class.
"Henry has been ranked as high as number one in Texas in boy's singles and is known as a fierce competitor and the consummate team player," Denton added. "Henry finished third at the 16-and-under National Doubles Championship in Kalamazoo and I look for him to help the Aggies in both singles and doubles play."
Oscar Janglin is an experienced ITF player who completed his prep career at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Janglin, a native of Sweden, was rated as a top-100 player by tennisrecrtuiting.net and rankedas high as 93rd in the year end 2014 ITF rankings.
"Oscar has a very big game showcasing a big serve and attacking style of play," Denton said. "As good as Oscar has been in singles, he has an even more impressive doubles record and ranking. I look for Oscar to be a major contender for playing time with a tremendous amount of upside in both singles and doubles this upcoming season."
Kevin Lam is originally from New Jersey, but has spent considerable time at the Dent Tennis Academy in Fountain View, California. Lam won a singles and doubles match at the Boys' 18 National Championship in Kalamazoo, Michigan earlier this month. Tennisrecruiting.net listed Lam as a four-star prospect and ranked No. 64 in the latest recruiting rankings.
"Kevin may be the sleeper in this class," Denton added. "He is a very clean ball striker and has a tremendous work ethic and real passion for the game of tennis having gained experience against some of the best juniors in California who are among some of the top players in the country and the world. Kevin is a very good doubles player as he has great feel around the net, while his biggest asset is his return of serve."
Aleksandre Bakshi, a talented left-hander from Tblisi, Georgia, comes to College Station with a career-high ITF ranking of 49 in singles play. Bakshi has Davis Cup experience and ATP points in both singles and doubles competition. Like Giammalva and Gordon, Bakshi's father was a professional player, additionally is the current Davis Cup Captain for the country of Georgia.
"While Aleksandre will not join our team until January, I look for him to make an immediate impact on our team," Denton added. "With his explosive serve and forehand he should adapt quickly to collegiate tennis and bring added depth and talent to our team."
The 2015 Texas A&M men's tennis team capped off their historic season with a program-best fifth place ranking in the final Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll. The Aggies finished in the top-10 for the sixth time after advancing to the Elite 8 for the second time in program history, falling to eventual National Champion Virginia in the national quarterfinals.
For more information about Texas A&M men's tennis log on to 12thMan.com or follow the Aggies on twitter at @AggieMTEN or facebook.com/AggieMensTennis.
2015 Texas A&M Men's Tennis Signing Class
Name Hometown / High School
Aleksandre Bakshi* Tblisi, Georgia
Sam Giammalva Houston, Texas / Memorial
Henry Gordon New Braunfels, Texas / John Newcombe Tennis Academy
Oscar Janglin Stockholm, Sweden / IMG Academy [Bradenton, Fla.]
Kevin Lam Irvine, Calif. / Dent Tennis Academy
*Will enroll at Texas A&M in Spring 2016
Sam Giammalva hails from Houston, Texas graduating from the storied Memorial High School. The incoming freshman claimed the Class 6A boys' doubles crown last May at the Mitchell Tennis Center. The right-hander comes from a famous tennis family with his grandfather, father and uncle all having played professional tennis. Giammalva comes to College Station as a four-star prospect according to tennisrecruiting.net.
"Sam is big and very athletic and as you would expect very technically sound having grown up in a tennis family," Denton said. "I look forward to Sam being an integral part of our success as a team in the next several years. I look for Sam's game to skyrocket once he gets to work with our very talented group of players."
Henry Gordon is a native Californian, but spent the last two years at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Braunfels, TX. Like Giammalva, Gordon was raised in a tennis family as his father played professionally. The right-hander was rated as a five-star prospect by tennisrecruiting.net and ranked in the top-50 recruits in the 2015 class.
"Henry has been ranked as high as number one in Texas in boy's singles and is known as a fierce competitor and the consummate team player," Denton added. "Henry finished third at the 16-and-under National Doubles Championship in Kalamazoo and I look for him to help the Aggies in both singles and doubles play."
Oscar Janglin is an experienced ITF player who completed his prep career at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Janglin, a native of Sweden, was rated as a top-100 player by tennisrecrtuiting.net and rankedas high as 93rd in the year end 2014 ITF rankings.
"Oscar has a very big game showcasing a big serve and attacking style of play," Denton said. "As good as Oscar has been in singles, he has an even more impressive doubles record and ranking. I look for Oscar to be a major contender for playing time with a tremendous amount of upside in both singles and doubles this upcoming season."
Kevin Lam is originally from New Jersey, but has spent considerable time at the Dent Tennis Academy in Fountain View, California. Lam won a singles and doubles match at the Boys' 18 National Championship in Kalamazoo, Michigan earlier this month. Tennisrecruiting.net listed Lam as a four-star prospect and ranked No. 64 in the latest recruiting rankings.
"Kevin may be the sleeper in this class," Denton added. "He is a very clean ball striker and has a tremendous work ethic and real passion for the game of tennis having gained experience against some of the best juniors in California who are among some of the top players in the country and the world. Kevin is a very good doubles player as he has great feel around the net, while his biggest asset is his return of serve."
Aleksandre Bakshi, a talented left-hander from Tblisi, Georgia, comes to College Station with a career-high ITF ranking of 49 in singles play. Bakshi has Davis Cup experience and ATP points in both singles and doubles competition. Like Giammalva and Gordon, Bakshi's father was a professional player, additionally is the current Davis Cup Captain for the country of Georgia.
"While Aleksandre will not join our team until January, I look for him to make an immediate impact on our team," Denton added. "With his explosive serve and forehand he should adapt quickly to collegiate tennis and bring added depth and talent to our team."
The 2015 Texas A&M men's tennis team capped off their historic season with a program-best fifth place ranking in the final Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll. The Aggies finished in the top-10 for the sixth time after advancing to the Elite 8 for the second time in program history, falling to eventual National Champion Virginia in the national quarterfinals.
For more information about Texas A&M men's tennis log on to 12thMan.com or follow the Aggies on twitter at @AggieMTEN or facebook.com/AggieMensTennis.
2015 Texas A&M Men's Tennis Signing Class
Name Hometown / High School
Aleksandre Bakshi* Tblisi, Georgia
Sam Giammalva Houston, Texas / Memorial
Henry Gordon New Braunfels, Texas / John Newcombe Tennis Academy
Oscar Janglin Stockholm, Sweden / IMG Academy [Bradenton, Fla.]
Kevin Lam Irvine, Calif. / Dent Tennis Academy
*Will enroll at Texas A&M in Spring 2016
Players Mentioned
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