“In baseball you get three at bats. In tennis you get a hundred,” observed 8-year old Braylen Brown as he handily returned his father’s serve last Saturday morning at Baywood Racquet Club in Winterville.
Such wisdom from a third grader sums up the current state of junior tennis in eastern North Carolina. Following the recent success of Greenville’s hometown tennis star Tommy Paul, scores of young tennis players are dreaming of Olympic medals and pro-tour possibilities. Most kids, however, are just excited to get a chance to play.
Braylen plays many sports, but his favorites are football and tennis, a reminder that tennis is a great off-season training sport for kids playing baseball, football or volleyball as a means for maintaining fitness through cross-training while working on those all-important building blocks of good sportsmanship and team spirit.
Hand-eye coordination, cardio fitness, agility and respect are just a few skills kids can take with them from the tennis court to the soccer field or basketball court and back to the classroom.
“One of the best things about tennis for kids,” said Sharon Surles, a 17-year coach of the boys’ tennis team at South Central High School, “is the ability to have a large roster, a no-cut policy and the important feeling of belonging to something outside of their family.”
While there are only two or four players on the court at a time, there are lots of teammates on the sidelines cheering them on. As one set of players comes off the court, another comes on. Training together, learning skills as a team provides many opportunities for success.
“Camaraderie and good sportsmanship are essential elements of tennis for kids at any age. Adults too,” Surles said.
Junior tennis is getting a big boost thanks to Paul, who is currently ranked 13th in the world. Paul and doubles partner Taylor Fritz took home the bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Paul was once again in contention at Wimbledon in July. The success began in Greenville 20 years ago when Paul first stepped onto the tennis court at Baywood Racquet Club. According to the United States Tennis Association, 100,000 kids play Junior Team Tennis nationwide each year.
“Tennis is a lifetime sport,” said Henry Hostetler, founder of Baywood Racquet Club and an N.C. Tennis Hall of Famer. You can start at any age and play well into your senior years, he said, noting that there are members at the club who enjoy hitting balls with their children and grandchildren.
The McCarlie sisters, Grace, age 14, and Lucy, age 12, also love playing tennis together.
Lucy prefers singles because there are “less errors,” while Grace likes to play singles and doubles.
“I just like hitting lots of balls and having fun,” Lucy said. Both girls agree that they like the cardio and stamina they build when playing tennis, adding that this also helps with their other activities including dance and golf. The Hope Middle School students have been taking lessons for two years, encouraged by their mom, Leslie, who started playing tennis 12 years ago when the family moved to Greenville.
“It’s my thing,” Leslie said, laughing.
Along with the start of a new school year, there is also the start of the Baywood Tennis Academy on Monday. This fall, the club is offering the first month free to kids who want to play tennis, learn new skills, improve their game and make new friends.
Sign ups are easy, just email office@baywoodracquetclub.com to get started.
- Susan Monshaw
Basketball
D.H. Conley High School Hall of Fame basketball player and current Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach and director of player development Rico Hines will conduct a basketball clinic for boys ages 6-14 on Sept. 7 at Conley.
The former star point guard’s one-day camp is part of a team effort with Horizons of Pitt County and Pitt Community College to offer tuition-free summer learning opportunities to local youths and is raise money to support students who participate in the educational programs each year.
The “Know Your Big Picture” Basketball Clinic will benefit Horizons of Pitt County, a member of Horizons National which supports the academic achievement and healthy youth development of selected Pitt County Schools elementary and middle school students. The summer program, housed on the campus of PCC, provides enriching activities focused on learning in and outside the classroom, building confidence and fostering joy. Their hands-on approach integrates science, art, reading, math, field trips, swimming and other enrichment experiences.
While at Conley, Hines was also an outstanding football and baseball player, helping to lead the football team to a state championship appearance as the quarterback.
After leaving Conley, Hines transferred to Saint John’s at Prospect Hall in Maryland. Awarded an athletic scholarship to UCLA, Hines was a team captain for three of his five years, during which the Bruins made five NCAA tournament appearances and four trips to the Sweet 16.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and minored in African American studies. Hines received the Elvin C. ‘Ducky’ Drake Award for competitive spirit, inspiration and unselfish contribution, as well as the Bruin Hoopsters J.D. Morgan Memorial Award for outstanding team play.
In his professional career, Hines also has coached on the staffs of the Golden State Warriors, St. John’s (N.Y.), the Reno Bighorns and Toronto Raptors.
Every summer during the offseason, Hines directs the “Rico Hines Runs” at UCLA, where many of all the biggest stars in basketball converge for competitive pick-up games. His YouTube channel, Rico Hines Basketball, documents these games featuring players like Pascal Siakam, LaMelo Ball, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, James Harden, Trae Young and many others.
Golf
The Pitt County Coalition on Substance Use will hold its golf tournament fundraiser on Sept. 26 at the Greenville Country Club.
The aim of the fundraiser is to make a significant impact in Pitt County by purchasing naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
Opioid overdoses continue to pose a significant public health concern. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, can reverse the effects of opioid overdose and save lives. Acquiring an ample supply of naloxone requires financial resources.
By participating in our golf tournament fundraiser, you will not only enjoy a day filled with fun, networking, and golfing but also contribute to a noble cause. Your support will directly contribute to purchasing naloxone kits that will be distributed throughout Pitt County, potentially saving lives and offering hope to those struggling with opioid use disorder.
Whether you’re an avid golfer or just enjoy supporting a meaningful cause, participation is welcome. Additionally, if you’re unable to attend but still wish to contribute, donations are gratefully accepted.
Cost is $150 for a two-person team and $300 for a four-person team. Registration and light breakfast will be at 8:30 a.m., with a 9:30 shotgun start and 1:30 p.m. lunch and awards.
Please register by Monday to secure your spot or indicate your intention to donate. If you are unable to attend as a player but would like to donate to this fundraiser, visit pccsu.org/ and click “sponsor.”
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