WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW men's tennis head coach Mait DuBois announced the signing of five student-athletes for the 2026-27 season.
"We are very excited about our incoming recruiting class," DuBois said. "We were searching for players who share our passion for excellence and the kind of character that fits well with our culture. We were also looking for players who have shown success at the highest international levels. With a majority of our lineup returning, I know this class will help us make significant strides forward."
Alejandro Castellanos (Yopal, Colombia):
Castellanos joins the Seahawks as a freshman and was ranked No. 1 in his age group in Colombia. He owns wins over the No. 32, No. 53, and No. 57-ranked juniors in the world, as well as blue-chip American recruits. Castellanos has been ranked as high as No. 104 in the ITF junior rankings, winning two ITF junior singles titles and one doubles title. He also represented Colombia in the South American Cup.
"We sent coach Hurtado to Colombia to watch an ITF event, and he was impressed with the intensity Castellanos competes with," DuBois said. "He has demonstrated he can beat some of the top juniors in the world, and we are very excited to have him join us."
Gabriel Jacquemin (Tresserve, France):
Jacquemin enters with a 12.36 UTR and owns wins over the No. 83, No. 91, and No. 159-ranked juniors in the world. He advanced from pre-qualifying to the main draw of a J200 event in France and is considered one of the top juniors in the country.
"Gabriel is extremely strong technically and really prides himself on his use of tactics to beat opponents", said DuBois. "He has been on an absolute tear recently, beating some of the best junior players in the world, as well as some very successful college players. I really enjoyed getting to know him through the recruiting process, and his love of tennis really came across. I think he will surprise a lot of people with what he is able to do."
Noah Zeiger (Heidelberg, Germany):
Zeiger transfers from Gardner-Webb after earning Big South Freshman of the Year honors in 2025. He posted a 14-5 record, primarily playing at No. 2 singles, and carries a 12.25 UTR.
"Noah has a big, powerful left-handed game and is coming off a dominant season playing high in the lineup for a conference championship team," DuBois said. "His coach at Gardner-Webb spoke highly of his character, work ethic and potential. We were impressed with the immediate impact he made, and I know he will continue to develop in our environment."
Alejandro Pena (Bogota, Colombia):
Pena owns an 11.9 UTR and is ranked No. 335 in the ITF junior rankings. He has captured an ITF singles title and doubles title and has reached an additional singles final. He also owns a win over a top-80 ITF junior and a blue-chip American recruit.
"Pena is another recruit coach Hurtado evaluated in person at an international event," DuBois said. "He was impressed with his talent and ball-striking ability. Pena has not competed as extensively outside his country, but we believe his ability exceeds his current ranking. He is a passionate player committed to pursuing excellence and will surprise a lot of people."
JP Coello (Port St. Lucie, Fla.):
Coello is a five-star recruit ranked by TennisRecruiting.net and has been ranked as high as No. 58 nationally in his class. He is also a top-10 recruit in Florida and recently recorded a win over a player with a UTR above 13 at a major South Florida event.
"JP and his family spent time on campus, and we were impressed with his character and the goals he has set for himself," DuBois said. "He is coached by a former player of mine who spoke highly of his work ethic and potential. He brings an aggressive style of play, is strong at the net, and I know he will fit well within our culture."
