Feb. 26, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest men's tennis team travels the globe to find the most talented athletes for the Demon Deacon program, but recently head coach Jeff Zinn found a gem right here in the Twin Cities.

David Hopkins has been ranked No. 1 in North Carolina through out his teenage playing career and breached the national top 20 until he suffered a back injury in 2006. After taking eight months to recover, Hopkins tried his hand in the various men's opens where he quickly climbed to the top and currently holds a national ranking as No. 1 in North Carolina.

"He's always been at the top of his age group," Wake Forest head coach Jeff Zinn said. "We hope he can continue that type of success in college."

In 2005 Hopkins was named the North Carolina Male High School Player of the Year and was the most valuable player for the Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy tennis team in 2006.

The official tennis signing day isn't until late April, but Hopkins recently turned in an early National Letter of Intent to play with the Demon Deacons next season.

Hopkins' father is Larry Hopkins, the All-ACC starting fullback for the 1970 Demon Deacon football squad that took the ACC championship that season.

"It's great to have his family know what Wake Forest athletics is all about," Zinn said. "We look forward to watching David continue in the legacy that his father started."

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