By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, APRIL 24, 2015 – USF men's tennis has reeled in more top level international talent after capturing its second consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship crown.
USF has announced the signings of Spain's Alberto Barroso Campos and England's Sebastien Butler. Both players will compete for the program as freshmen in the fall of 2015 and head coach Matt Hill is excited to add them to the mix.
“Alberto has a great all-around game and is one of the best doubles players in his country as well,” Hill said. “When (assistant) coach (Brandon) Wagner saw Sebastien compete at the Orange Bowl, one of the biggest stages in the world for elite junior tennis, he called me immediately and said this guy is going to be a player.”
Campos has won 38 matches in his junior career and moved up to No. 62 in the world rankings in 2014. The 18-year-old has participated in qualifying for the French Open junior tournament and has posted 11 victories in ITF Futures Tour qualifying matches in his native country. Campos, a right-handed player with a two-handed backhand, has been training in Barcelona at the Spanish Tennis Federation, which has produced a plethora of professionals.
Butler, a tall left-handed player who turns 18 in May, has won 18 matches on the ITF junior circuit and has participated in qualifying for the Orange Bowl International, Eddie Herr tournaments and the pro Futures Tour in England. Butler's brother, Samm, currently plays for conference rival SMU.
USF has clinched all but five doubles points this spring and the Bulls will have more firepower at the beginning of matches next season. Campos has a 76-26 record in junior doubles and Butler recently won his second ITF junior doubles championship at an elite event in Thailand.
“One of the important qualities we as coaches look for in student-athletes is how coachable and receptive they are and I feel we scored with these two guys,” Wagner said. “They will represent what our program is about very well.”
USF is currently the highest ranked team in Florida at No. 19 in the ITA poll and the Bulls will return all but one player from this season's roster, including All-American Roberto Cid. USF (21-6) is on a five-match winning streak heading into the next phase of the postseason. Seeding and locations for the opening rounds of the NCAA Championship will be revealed during the Selection Show on Tuesday, April 28 at 5:30 p.m.
