Illinois continued its hot start on the recruiting trail with the recent signing of Aussie native Hayden Jones. The University announced the signing on Monday. Jones is the fourth addition to Brad Dancer’s 2025 class.
“We are excited to have Hayden and his family join the Illini,” Dancer said. “We are impressed by the meticulous approach Hayden took in the recruiting process. This is a young man who is filled with drive and determination. Hayden’s competitive spirit will pay big dividends for the Illini, and we are looking forward to coaching Hayden and helping him grow toward becoming a top ATP professional.”
Jones reached a career-high ITA junior ranking of No. 8 in the world. He was also named the 2024 Australian Tennis Junior Male Athlete of the Year and has competed in all four junior Grand Slam events. Jones brings a serious resume to Champaign and adds even more firepower to an already loaded 2025 class.
He shared his thoughts on the signing: “I chose Illinois because I felt like the coaching team will help me improve my game,” Jones said. “I know I can have a positive impact within the team environment, and I look forward to joining the team this fall.”
Dancer, widely regarded as one of the nation’s top recruiters, aims to secure his seventh top-10 recruiting class this year. It would be his best since 2021.
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Jones joins fellow 2025 signees David Bakonyi, Adam Jilly, and top-20-ranked recruit Sasha Colleu, adding even more to a class already ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 9 nationally. With only two graduating seniors on the roster, Jones and his classmates will have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from a talented group of upperclassmen.
