The Ragin’ Cajuns men’s tennis team added a pair of standouts on Friday to the 2013 signing class as twins Hunter and Yates Johnson signed national letters of intent to join the Cajuns squad in the fall.

“I am ecstatic with this signing. These guys will make an immediate impact in singles and doubles, and will be able to compete on a national level right away,” head coach Mark Jeffrey said. “Every business or successful operation has several cornerstones that it lays its foundation from. I believe the Johnson twins are one of those cornerstones that will help propel this program to new heights that have not been seen since the 1980’s. The intangibles the Johnson Twins bring are immeasurable with their energy, drive, belief, team work, and work ethic. Those are just a few things they bring to our program.”

The brothers are one of the top doubles teams in the country ranking top 10 nationally in doubles.
The pair has won four straight high school state championships in doubles, winning three in Arizona and one in Texas. Also both Hunter and Yates went undefeated in singles and doubles throughout their high school careers.

“Our program is now nationally recognized so we have become very selective on who we bring into our program,” Jeffrey said. “Having been ranked as high as No. 47 nationally last year it brings those expectations higher for the next year. The Johnson twins can help get us to that top 25 plateau that we want to be a part of next year. That kind of feat hasn’t been accomplished since the 1980’s, and that’s where we are looking to go next year”.

Outside of high school, the Johnson twins have won the Mike Agassi No Quit Tournament in Las Vegas (16 doubles), the National Tournament in Carmel, Calif. (16 doubles) and the National Tournament in South Carolina (18 doubles). Currently Hunter ranks top 38 in singles nationally, while Yates is top 120 in singles.

“Mark my words these guys will be one of the top 10 doubles teams in the world,” Jeffrey stated. “My old school friend David McPherson coaches the Bryan brothers (the top rated doubles team in the world) and he is from Australia, and I would want nothing more than to help the Johnson twins reach that same plateau. I have passed the belief stage, and I can see where these guys are going. I believe they will dominate the ATP Tour Doubles Circuit one day, and it is my job to see that they do just that with the best preparation possible. I feel like our program has now become a breeding ground for future ATP Professionals that will be a part of the top echelon of the game.”


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Jeff Schneider