UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COMMUNICATIONS
Touted Ben Shelton Signs with Florida Men’s Tennis
Son of Gators head coach Bryan Shelton eligible to play for 2020-21 team
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida men’s tennis program bolstered its 2020-21 roster on Wednesday with the addition of five-star prospect Ben Shelton from Buchholz High School.
Ben Shelton, who is the son of Gators head coach Bryan Shelton, is regarded as one of the top junior players in the United States.
Originally on track to be a rising senior at Buchholz, Ben Shelton was able to complete his high school coursework in time to gain eligibility for the upcoming collegiate season and will enroll at UF this fall.
“We are very excited about Ben’s commitment,” Bryan Shelton said. “Ben is an exceptional athlete and has a real love for people, tennis and the Gators. We believe he will thrive in this environment with the high character of student-athletes on our team to learn from. As Ben’s father, I am especially proud of him for all the work he has put in to get here both in the classroom and the tennis court. His mom and I realize just how great of an opportunity he has to be a student-athlete at such a special place. Our staff expects great things from Ben and can’t wait to get started.”
The Ben Shelton File
• 2019 FHSAA State Champion (Singles)
• 2019 USTA Boys 16s Clay Courts Champion (Doubles)
• 2020 USTA Boys 18s Winter Nationals Finalist (Singles)
• No. 3 Nationally-Ranked Player Among 18-Year-Olds (USTA)
• No. 4 Nationally-Ranked Player in the Class of 2021 (Tennis Recruiting Network)
• 5-Star Blue Chip Prospect (Tennis Recruiting Network)
“I’m really excited to start my next chapter as a Gator,” Ben Shelton said. “I’ve been lucky enough to grow up around this prestigious college, and all its traditions. I’m really looking forward to being able to represent the Orange and Blue.”
This will be the ninth time that a Gators head coach will have their own son or daughter under their tutelage while at Florida. The Shelton duo will join head track and field and cross country coach Mike Holloway and his son Michael Holloway II as the two father-son pairs on campus currently.
There has never been a mother-daughter, mother-son or father-daughter combination of head coach and student-athlete at UF.
Father-Son Duos Historically at UF (Head Coach – Student-Athlete)
• Josh Cody (FB Coach; 1936-39) – Ernest Cody (1938)
• Dave Fuller (BB Coach; 1948-75) – David Fuller (1967-68), Len Fuller (1970-71) and John Fuller (1972-74)
– Fuller also coached his son, Len, on the football team as an assistant coach
• Joe Arnold (BB Coach; 1984-94) – Joey Arnold (1993)
• Buddy Alexander (MGolf Coach; 1987-2014) – Tyson Alexander (2007-10)
• Billy Donovan (MBB Coach; 1996-2015) – Billy Donovan (2014)
• Mike Holloway (TF/XC Coach; 2003-Present) – Michael Holloway II (2019-Present)
• Bryan Shelton (MTN Coach; 2012-Present) – Ben Shelton (2020-Present)
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