Transfer Blaise Bicknell Signs with Vols

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee men's tennis coach Chris Woodruff announced Monday that Florida transfer Blaise Bicknell has signed with UT and will join the Vols' squad for the upcoming spring semester.

A junior from Kingston, Jamaica, who attended Laurel Springs High School in Miami, Florida, Bicknell entered the collegiate landscape as an elite prospect. He was rated as the No. 3 prospect in the state of Florida and the No. 13 overall recruit in the country in 2019.

Standing at 6-3, Bicknell finished the 2020-21 season with an unblemished overall singles record of 32-0. He went 23-0 in dual match singles play, logging 18 victories at the No. 4 spot in the Gators' lineup, one win at the No. 5 spot and four wins at No. 6.

"I think it's safe to say that everyone affiliated with our team is really excited to welcome Blaise to Vol Nation," Woodruff said. "Blaise is a difference-maker and unequivocally helps our team immensely. He has the potential to be a next-level player, while at the same time leave an indelible impression on our storied program. We're thrilled to have him in Knoxville."

Following his sophomore season in the spring of 2021, Bicknell was named to the 2021 All-SEC Second Team, while also being recognized on the 2021 SEC All-Newcomer Team.

Additionally, Bicknell earned a spot on the 2021 SEC All-Tournament Team and also became an NCAA Champion at season's end (team championship).

As a freshman in 2019-20, Bicknell posted a 19-6 overall singles record and was 7-0 in dual singles action before the season was cut short due to COVID-19.

Bicknell, holding a singles ranking of No. 33 to open the 2021 fall season, represented Jamaica in the Davis Cup during the summer of 2021. He holds a singles record of 5-1 and a 1-1 doubles record when representing his home country.

The Vols are now the nation's only team to boast four of the nation's top-33 singles players, according to the ITA Preseason National Rankings: Adam Walton (No. 5), Johannus Monday (No. 6), Martim Prata (No. 29) and Bicknell (No. 33).

As for doubles, Tennessee's Aussie tandem of Walton and Pat Harper stand as the nation's No. 1 doubles pair, coming off the duo's 2021 NCAA Doubles National Championship. Monday and Prata hold a national doubles ranking of No. 33, while newcomers Shunsuke Mitsui and Emile Hudd are listed as the No. 48 doubles pairing in the ITA Preseason Rankings.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Pat Harper

Emile Hudd

Shunsuke Mitsui

Johannus Monday

Martim Prata

Adam Walton

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