Brown adds two in Griz tennis signing class

All it took was a few minutes after stepping off the plane in Missoula for one of Montana's latest tennis recruits to know he'd found the right fit, and the other already knew what Montana had to offer and couldn't wait to get back.

Grizzly head tennis coach Jason Brown has completed his incoming class of 2019 with the addition of a Montanan in Josh Watkins of Whitefish and Cameron Isbell, who hails from just outside of London in the U.K.

With the Grizzlies only losing one senior in Alex Canellopoulos following the 2018-19 season, Brown has added extra depth to an already deep and youthful squad as he looks to keep UM's streak of 28 Big Sky Tourney appearances alive.

"I really do think they're a continuation of the kind of guy we strive to recruit. They both have top academic pedigrees coming in, and are both very talented tennis players," said Brown.

Watkins returns to Montana after spending his high school years at Newport Harbor High School in Orange County, California, and training at the Advantage Tennis Academy.

The son of a former D-I tennis player at BYU, Watkins is a three-year letterman, team captain and team MVP at Newport Harbor who was named first-team all-CIF-Southern Section and won a league doubles championship as a junior. He is now the second player from Whitefish to earn a spot on the Grizzly roster alongside Finn Anderson.

"One of the first things I said when I took this job is that I'd be dedicated to bringing any Montana kids I possibly can into the program," said Brown, getting set to enter his second full season as UM's head coach. "Having another kid from Montana on the roster means a lot to the University and to me, and I think that was a big part of signing Josh and bringing him home."

"I think Josh has a ton of upside. He loves tennis and is incredibly dedicated to it," Brown added. "I know we don't have to worry about him putting the work in on the court or in the classroom. We're talking about a kid that is going to come in with a laser-sharp focus."

While bringing quality players from the area is important to Brown, equally important to Watkins was the chance to come home and pursue his academic goals as a newly accepted student in the Davidson Honors College, goals that include medical school and a potential run at the Rhodes Scholarship.

"I've just always felt more relaxed, at peace, and happy in Montana. I love California, I love both states, and they're both kind of home to me," said Watkins.

"I was really impressed with everything I saw when I was filling out the application, looking at some of the experiences of the students and graduates, it seemed like the experience I want to have."

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Isbell had heard about Montana from his friend, former teammate, and Grizzly freshman Ed Pudney, but had never been to the states before he visited Missoula during the fall. It didn't take long for him to be sold on the place when he arrived, either.

"As soon as I came off the plane I loved it straight away, so I'm really looking forward to next year already," said Isbell from his home in Buckhurst Hill, east of London.

Standing six-foot tall, Isbell comes to Missoula as an Essex County representative and team captain and former Player of the Year at Davenant Foundation School.

"I really think he's a steal for us," said Brown.

"He's grown a lot in the last year and plays really smooth - almost small-guy tennis. Really clean ball striking, great movement, loves to come forward to the net, but now he's doing it with a six-foot frame.

"I think the sky's the limit potential-wise. I don't see any reason he couldn't play up in the lineup soon. I think he's got a ton of potential to do big things here."

Isbell plans to study business at Montana and carries an 11.95 Universal Tennis Rating. He also is a soccer fan and supports Manchester United.

The Grizzlies begin the 2019 duals season on January 19 when UM heads to Spokane to take on Gonzaga.

University of Montana Athletics

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