CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—The North Carolina men’s tennis program has signed a trio of top prospects to join the UNC program, head coach Sam Paul announced on Thursday.
Three top American recruits will join the Tar Heels for the 2024-25 academic year, including the nation’s #2 ranked player, Ian Mayew, #9-ranked Kase Schinnerer and 5-star, Chapel Hill native Oliver Narbut.
“We’re very excited for Ian, Oliver and Kase to join the Carolina Tennis family,” Paul says. “Collectively, this is one of the best incoming classes we’ve ever had in my time here in terms of talent on the court. But we know they’re high-character guys as well. We’ve had a chance to get to know their families during the recruiting process and know they’ll all fit in well with our team culture. We can’t wait for these guys to get here to Chapel Hill and continue to reach their potential on and off the court.” Ian Mayew
Mayew, from nearby Cary, N.C., is the #2 overall recruit in the high school class of 2025 and the top player in North Carolina. He is a Blue Chip recruit with a career-high ITF world ranking of 25. On the ITF circuit, Mayew won singles titles at J300 Barranquilla and San Jose and was a singles finalist at the J300 in Houston and San Diego. In doubles, Mayew won the ITF J300 Indian Wells Title and finished in third place at the USTA Boys’ 18’s this summer in Kalamazoo (teaming with Schinnerer). Mayew also competed in three of the four junior grand slams in 2024.
“Ian has truly proven himself to be one of the best junior tennis players in the world,” says Paul. “His talent and ability are incredible. What impressed us the most, though, was his character in leadership ability. He comes from a great family and is going to bring so much positive energy and big results on and off the court.”
“I chose UNC because of the great combination of its coaching staff, academics and campus,” says Mayew. “It’s an amazing group of guys, and I can’t wait to get to work! Go Heels!”
Oliver Narbut
Narbut is a Chapel Hill native who attends East Chapel Hill High School. A five-star recruit according to TennisRecruiting.net, he is ranked in the top five in North Carolina and as high as #43 nationally in 2024. As a freshman, he won the North Carolina 4A high school singles championship, becoming the first ECHHS player to do so since 2006. He has won seven USTA national balls, is a two-time Kalamazoo doubles finalist and won the USTA National Clay Court Boys’ 16s in doubles. Narbut was nominated for USA Today’s National Boys Tennis Player of the Year in 2022. His mother, Andrea Narbut, is a 1995 UNC graduate.
“Not only has Oliver consistently been one of the best tennis players in the country, he also is an incredible student and epitomizes the culture of our program here at Carolina,” explains Paul. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Oliver and know he has an incredibly bright future with us.”
“Choosing to play tennis at Carolina was an easy decision for me,” Narbut says. “The academic and athletic reputation cannot be rivaled anywhere. Growing up in Chapel Hill, I’ve been surrounded by Carolina Blue, and my passion for Tar Heel sports started young. As a UNC fan, I always dreamed of not just cheering for the Tar Heels, but becoming one. Joining the Carolina family and wearing the blue on the tennis court will be truly special. Go Heels!”
Kase Schinnerer
A native of Lewisburg, Pa., Schinnerer is ranked #9 in the class of ’25, with a career high of #6 according to TennisRecruiting.net. He’s been ranked as high as #53 in the ITF Junior Rankings and has won five ITF titles. Schinnerer has played in the junior French Open, Wimbledon and US Open, winning matches at both Wimbledon and the US Open. He teamed with Mayew to win the doubles championship at ITF J300 Indian Wells. Schinnerer and Mayhew finished 3rd at the this summer’s USTA Boys’ 18’s National Championships in Kalamazoo.
“Kase has played on the biggest stages of junior world tennis and performed very well,” Paul says. “Kase is truly an incredible competitor, and we think he will make everyone around him better. Both of his parents have high-level sporting backgrounds, and his foundation is as good as we’ve seen. We can’t wait to see the success he has at UNC.”
“I chose UNC because of the great team culture and family atmosphere,” Schinnerer says. “There is no better place in the country to achieve your athletic and academic goals than here at North Carolina.”
Current Tar Heels Logan Zapp and Patrick Schoen are headed to the NCAA Doubles Championships next week to represent Carolina as the fall singles and doubles campaign concludes.
Action in Waco, Texas, hosted by Baylor University will begin on Tuesday November 19.
