National Player Section Development Camp
Brings Elite Juniors Together at The Claremont Club

For the third consecutive year, USTA Southern California hosted the National Player Development Section Camp at The Claremont Club, welcoming some of the region’s top junior players born in 2014 and 2015 for two days of high level training and development. Held April 18-19, the camp is part of the annual USTA Sectional Camp series conducted across all 17 USTA Sections. The program is designed to support player identification and long term growth by immersing athletes in elite coaching environments and structured performance education.

Each Sectional Camp features 24 selected players, evenly split between girls and boys, and follows a curriculum aligned with regional and national development standards. This year’s group was selected through a collaborative process involving Section Player Development staff, Coaches Commissions, and Player ID personnel, ensuring the roster reflected the top emerging talent in Southern California.

Throughout the weekend, athletes trained under eight USTA Southern California developmental coaches, with support from Morisa Yang, USTA National Player Development Coach based in Carson, and lead faculty member Danielle Lao, who helped guide on court programming and shape the overall learning environment.

Yang brings deep roots in Southern California tennis as a former standout at West Torrance High School and CIF singles finalist, later competing at the University of California, Berkeley. She previously led the girls’ tennis program at Redondo Union High School and has been widely recognized for her long standing impact on junior player development across the section. With more than two decades of coaching experience, she has worked with athletes at every level, from beginners to nationally ranked juniors, and is known for her emphasis on discipline, focus, and teamwork.

Lao, a Pasadena native and former USC standout, reached a career high WTA singles ranking of No. 152 and captured multiple ITF singles and doubles titles. Her professional playing experience and competitive mindset now shape her coaching approach as she helps guide the next generation of players.

“There was so much knowledge shared in this National Section Camp. Players, parents, and coaches all had an invaluable experience learning from each other on and off the court. We all got better as a section,” said Lao.

Training and On-Court Sessions

The camp began with a welcome session where coaches and players established clear goals for the weekend. From the start, the focus was on holistic player development, both mental and physical. Over the two days, athletes took part in on court sessions that featured technical drills, structured match play, and DartFish filming to break down and analyze technique in real time. These tools helped provide individualized feedback aimed at refining each player’s game and monitoring ongoing progress.

Warm-ups and daily mental practice were incorporated into the routine, helping the young athletes mentally prepare for each session and learn how to stay focused during high-pressure situations. Players were split across courts 17-24, where they received hands-on coaching from USTA Working Coaches including former ATP Tour pro Cecil Mamiit, a former Top 75 player and US Open boys’ champion; Barry Friedman and Mark McCampbell, both longtime Southern California coaches known for developing nationally ranked juniors; Eduardo Nava, former collegiate standout at Wake Forest and TCU who transitioned into coaching; Fanni Varga, a former international player with a high performance coaching background; and experienced teaching pros Mark Hanson, Darren Richer, and Gail Hanson, who each bring years of player development experience across junior and adult levels.

The camp also incorporated BJK Cup and Davis Cup style match play to simulate real competition environments, giving athletes valuable opportunities to sharpen strategy, decision making, and mental toughness under pressure.

A key component of the experience was the integration of DartFish Media to enhance player development. Following the camp, players and parents received individualized feedback aligned with the camp objectives, along with access to a personalized DartFish Media page. This platform provided in depth video analysis and performance insights, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement, and allowing players to continue tracking their development well beyond the event.

Seminars and Parent Engagement

In addition to on court training, the camp included educational seminars designed to support overall player growth. On Saturday, the players took part in “Confidence, Pt. 1,” a session designed to help them stay mentally focused and connected with the game. Parents were also invited to learn about key topics such as scheduling guidelines during informative sessions led by experts like Yang and Lao.

On Saturday, Paul Annacone, a highly respected coach with decades of experience, spoke with parents about scheduling guidelines and broader player development topics, including the structure of a player’s support team, the relationship between players, parents, and coaches, as well as player identity and confidence. He also spent time on court, sharing coaching insights in real time and engaging directly with players, helping reinforce the connection between player development and parental understanding.

Later that day, the players participated in “Confidence, Pt. 2,” where they deepened their understanding of mental focus and engagement during competition. The sessions gave them the tools to stay engaged and maintain a positive mindset when faced with challenges on and off the court.

A Bright Future Ahead

By the end of the camp, players left with more than technical instruction. They also gained practical tools to support their mental and physical development. The combination of on court training, mental skills work, and personalized feedback helped athletes evaluate their progress and set goals moving forward.

The weekend concluded with a cool down and journaling session, giving players time to reflect on their experiences and key takeaways.

Gaelan Thompson Healy and Monroe da Pron received the Sportsmanship Award, while Imangali Kanat was honored with the Resilient Award, underscoring the character, effort, and mindset that defined the camp throughout the weekend.

USTA Southern California continues its commitment to developing the next generation of tennis talent through programs like this, helping young athletes build skills, confidence, and long term competitive foundations.

“This National Southern California Sectional Camp was especially remarkable in the way the players took ownership of their growth and held themselves and each other accountable for their effort, engagement, punctuality, and respect. It was a pleasure to witness such dedication and professionalism throughout our time together,” said Morisa Yang.

Participants were selected through the USTA Southern California player identification pathway, bringing together a strong group of emerging talent from across the section.

This year’s roster included Aleksandra Abaunza Shen, Harvey Baek, Monroe Dapron, Kira Elliott, Noah Feigenbaum, Anthony Gallo, Yuna Guo, Imangali Kanat, Damian Kasralikar, Melody Li, Katherine Ma, Veronika Poslova, Ahren Rafiq, Lucas Riego de Dios, Julia Russell, Samaira Sachdeva, Mathias Simon, Carlota Tarazaga Diaz, Gaelan Thompson Healy, Vetri Vignesh, Xiyu Wu, Qingrui Yao, Dorian Zeldin, and Kelly Zheng.

Looking ahead, USTA Southern California remains committed to developing the next generation of tennis talent. Through programs like this, the section continues to help young players build skills, confidence, and competitive readiness both on and off the court.