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TheLotto Elite Hot 100 lists are published each month, and the January Hot 100 lists feature the 100 boys and girls who most improved their rankings during the month of December. You can find out more about the Lotto Elite Hot 100 - and how the lists are calculated - by reading here.

The latest lists are available here:

• Boys' Hot 100
• Girls' Hot 100

We talked to some of the top performers:

Aspen Wooten (Orlando, Florida)

Aspen Wooten (WTN: 25.0) rose 70 spots in the latest Tennis Recruiting Network girls rankings to No. 181 from the 251st slot.

The 5-foot-9 right-handed three star produced a 7-0 record and won two L5 tournaments along the way. Wooten won the 18s Boca Delray Beach Championships in Delray Beach, Florida, and the Orange County Championships (flighted) in Orlando.

Three-Star Junior Aspen Wooten
© Contributed Photo

Wooten will move up to the four-star category in March at the end of the spring ratings period.

“I believe my training on and off the court has been crucial in improving my game,” said Wooten, a junior at Lake Nona High School in Orlando. “Despite also playing basketball, I’ve made an effort to participate in more tennis tournaments, which has made time management and staying healthy essential to my success.”

Wooten is a gifted and versatile student-athlete, to say the least. She teamed with Shrika Moturi to win the 2024 Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4A doubles title for Lake Nona, where she is team captain. She is a two-time Orlando Sentinel All-Area First Team Award recipient. Wooten also was named her team’s most outstanding player in 2023 and 2024.

She is also captain of the Lake Nona girls basketball team and has played varsity hoops for three years. Wooten also competes in the Amateur Athletic Union basketball.

“What sets me apart from other tennis players is my involvement in other sports,” Wooten said. “While tennis is my absolute favorite, I enjoy diversifying to keep things interesting and fun. Playing other sports allows me to engage different muscle groups, helping to prevent the overuse of one side of my body, which can happen with tennis.”

Wooten has several coaches, including Lake Nona High School coach Tom Beard. Her individual tennis coach is Jason Gilbert, and her physio coach is Nick Cabico, both of Orlando.

“I’m a modern all-court player with an offensive style,” Wooten said. “But I am also strong defensively and neutral when needed. I tend to approach the game with a mix of aggressiveness and strategy. My strengths include my first and second serves, my net game, and mental toughness. I thrive in doubles because it’s fast-paced and demands a good net game, effective teamwork, and communication to succeed. Doubles excites me a lot.”

Academically, Wooten has consistently been an honor roll student and has excelled in Advanced placement courses.

“I am eager to take my tennis game to the collegiate level,” Wooten said. “I would be honored to represent an institution with a rich legacy of academic and athletic excellence. Equally important to me is finding a coaching staff that is committed to supporting their players and fostering both their development and success.”

Outside of sports, Wooten has had an internship and a fellowship with the U.S. Department of Education for the past two years. She is the founder of the OMG Tennis Foundation, a digital platform aimed at expanding access to the tennis community and helping young players connect and thrive. Wooten is also a member of the African American Culture Club and the GenWow Club, among other organizations.

She is also a guitarist and vocalist, alternating between electric guitar and classical acoustic. Wooten said “each offers a unique sound and experience that reflects my mood.”

Her parents are Andre and Nympha Wooten. Their daughter grew up watching her cousins play tennis and watching the sport on television. When Wooten was 4 years old, she asked her dad if she could take up the game.

”Tennis is her first love and she has always maintained a strong competitive spirit,” her parents said. “While she enjoys exploring other activities and sports, her passion for tennis remains a top priority. We’ve witnessed her introduce the sport to many of her peers and relatives of all ages, inspiring so many others to get involved in tennis.”

Shane Hand (Powell, Ohio)

Shane Hand (WTN: 21.1) made significant strides in his Tennis Recruiting Network boys rankings, along with posting a 13-1 record.

Hand, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, with a two-handed backhand, now claims a ranking of No. 234, rising from 289th. The three-star recruit also won an L5 18s event at the Western Athletic Club in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hand reached the quarterfinals of the L4 South Bend Racquet Club tournament in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Three-Star Junior Shane Hand
© Contributed Photo

“Growing up playing tennis, I had a lot of difficulty focusing and following through to finish a match. I lacked confidence in the end,” Hand said. “As I have matured, I have been able to overcome these mental blocks and it has changed the way I view this sport entirely. Now, every time I step on to the court, I play with joy and integrity. These adjustments have led to positive outcomes and increased confidence, and have elevated my game to a new level.”

A junior at Olentangy Liberty High School, Hand has received a number of accolades from the Ohio Capital Conference. He was named the OCC Player of the Year, and was the youngest player in school history to qualify for state. Hand took fourth place at state during the 2023-24 season, playing Division 1 singles. He helped send his squad to the quarterfinals of the team tournament, the furthest the Patriots have ever advanced.

“I would classify myself as an all-around player,” Hand said. “While my height gives me a natural advantage on the serve, my ability to move is sometimes surprising to opponents. I’m able to utilize many aspects of the game. I feel like I can go into matches with multiple options to make adjustments as needed. That being said, I tend to be an aggressive style of player, using my shot-making ability to get to the net.”

Academically, Hand is enrolled in five Advanced Placement classes, and has earned straight A’s throughout high school, maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average.

“I would love to play college tennis,” Hand said. “Tennis itself can be a lonely sport. I believe being part of a college team will be even better, due to the shared level of commitment among the players. I am looking for universities that have both an excellent academic program and a tennis program, where I can do my part to contribute to the team’s success.”

Hand’s parents are Abigail and David Hand. Hand’s coach is his mom, who works at Elysium Tennis in Plain City, Ohio. She introduced the sport to Hand and his brothers when he was 3 years old. Mom set up footwork ladders in the driveway and hit balls on the side street adjacent to their house. Hand said those “mini-clinics” taught him to be adaptable, appreciative, and shaped him to the person he is today.

Hand partnered with his mom in the National Mother-Son Tournament this past year in Lexington, Kentucky. They finished second and earned a silver ball. His goal is to win a gold ball, as Abigail did with her father in 1999.

“Shane is a fourth generation tennis player,” his parents said. “His mother, grandfather, and great grandfather all played the sport. Today, Shane plays tennis with his parents, brothers, and his uncle and cousins. It’s definitely a familial lifestyle. The passing on of that tradition at a very young age has certainly played a role in why Shane has chosen tennis as his primary sport.”

Stephanie Marcheret (Syosset, New York)

Stephanie Marcheret (WTN: 25.2) moved up in the Tennis Recruiting Network girls rankings to No. 208 from her previous position of 247th.

The 5-foot-3 right-handed three-star recruit sported an 11-1 record and won the 16s L4 Open CenterCourt Winter Break event in Chatham, New Jersey. Marcheret was later a finalist at the L5 Open NYTC Girls 18s Clay Courts om Bronx, New York.

Three-Star Junior Stephanie Marcheret
© Contributed Photo

“I credit my improvement to the tips and guidance from some of the Farmingdale College (New York) players I had been hitting with over the past few months,” said Marcheret, a junior at Syosset High School on Long Island. “The college players gave me a tactical perspective on the game that completely changed my approach to matches. I had a deeper understanding of tennis that allowed me to play matches with my mental, tactical, and physical game, where previously most of my play was physical.”

Marcheret trains with multiple coaches at Sportime Syosset, and with Curtis McCalla. She is working on taking away time from her opponents with patterns, approaching the net, and consistent volleying. Marcheret also works on different ways of approaching a variety of players, and is learning more about the mental side of the game.

“I am an all-court aggressive player,” Marcheret said. “I try to come up to the net and move around the whole court. My strengths are my endurance balanced with power, a low base, and a precise serve. … I think my physical endurance and speed are also very special. My extensive family and our wide-ranging interests have given me a well-rounded life that supports me in being focused on tennis, but also having my own things on the side.”

Marcheret has been on the Syosset High School varsity team since moving to Long Island in the eighth grade. Three times in the last four seasons, her team made the New York state finals. She played No. 2 singles as a freshman and sophomore, and the top slot as a junior. Marcheret garnered all-state accolades in doubles and all-county honors in singles. During her upcoming senior year, Marcheret will be the team captain.

In the classroom, Marcheret takes all Advanced Placement classes and has earned Honor Roll recognition going back to her freshman year. She also has conducted environmental research and received honorable mention recognition in a competition.

Her focus for the past two years has been tennis, as she previously played lacrosse. Marcheret is a serious piano player and enjoys writing and drawing on the side. Attending church is also very important to her.

“I definitely want to play in a competitive tennis environment in college,” Marcheret said. “I’ve been looking for schools that take their training very seriously as a disciplined program, and play strong matches with other schools. Possibly a service academy.”

Marcheret’s parents are Jaeyun P. Jang and Etienne Marcheret. She used to play many sports until after the fifth grade, when she chose to focus on tennis and lacrosse. Marcheret began playing tennis in the second grade and was active in 10-and-under tournaments. She rediscovered her love for the game beginning in the eighth grade, and credits the “incredible support” of her mother and father.

“Stephanie recently started playing a lot of tournaments in a short amount of time,” her parents said. “She forced herself to meet many different styles of opponents, which resulted in a positive change to her game. Being in the 11th grade and determined to play Division I tennis, Stephanie is highly driven to improve her tennis.”

Ananth Vasishta (East Windsor, New Jersey)

Ananth Vasishta (WTN: 24.6) moved up 71 rungs on the ladder in the Tennis Recruiting Network boys rankings to No. 308, coming from the 379th position.

The 5-foot-11 right-handed two-star recruit had a recent record of 7-1. Vasishta advanced to the 16s finals of the L5 Open Flighted at Arrowhead, played in Medford, New Jersey.

Two-Star Junior Ananth Vasishta
© Contributed Photo

“I owe my recent success to the support I get from my incredible team over the past few months,” said Vasishta, a junior at Hightstown High School in Hightstown, New Jersey. “My greatest inspiration and encouragement came from my dad, mom, brother and close friends I train with regularly. From the very beginning, I have put in my best effort during practice, but it’s only recently that I’ve started to see significant results. This experience has reinforced an important lesson: consistency, self-belief, and doing the right things, even when it’s challenging.”

Vasishta is a member of the Hightstown Rams boys tennis team, coached by Clinton Counts. He plays No. 1 singles and posted a record of 17-1-1 his sophomore year. He became the first male player in school history to win the Mercer County Tournament, and also reached the third round of the state competition.

He competed at the state level for Future Business Leaders of America during his freshman year. In his sophomore year, Vasishta placed in the top four in New Jersey for the Computer Game and Simulation event. His placement enabled him to advance to nationals in Orlando, Florida.

Vasishta has trained with Youssef Sherif of the Brunswick Hills Tennis Club in East Brunswick, New Jersey; Marc Hill of the Marc Hill Tennis Club in Hopewell, New Jersey; and Jason Kros, of the Princeton University men’s tennis coaching staff.

He stated he does not currently have a private coach because he is focusing on taking the SAT. Vasishta said he and Sherif worked on accelerating the forehand, as well as extensive work on patterns of his serve. Additionally, Vasishta did footwork drills and endurance training.

“I would describe my game as a counter-puncher,” Vasishta said. “I have great consistency and the ability to wear down my opponent. One of my main strengths is my backhand because I hit through the ball very hard and flat, while keeping it low. This causes a lot of errors from my opponent. Another side of my main strengths is my footwork because I am able to get from side to side very well. It is second nature for me to split step when I see my opponent making contact with the ball. These aspects of my game make me the player I am today.”

Vasishta said his parents encouraged him to get more active as a child by exploring various sports. He tried basketball, soccer, and swimming. His dad, Venkatesh Vashishta, enrolled him in tennis lessons. The younger Vasishta said he “fell in love with the sport and hitting the ball over the net was exciting and fun.”

Venkatesh and Sangeetha Vasishta believe tennis is the perfect match for their son.

“Ananth has zeroed in on tennis because it aligns well with his interests and personality,” his parents said. “He enjoys the combination of physical challenge, strategic thinking, and individual competition that tennis offers. He has found a supportive community of teammates, coaches, and friends within the tennis world, making the experience more enjoyable.”

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It's no coincidence that nearly 200 professional players represent the Lotto brand on the ATP and WTA tours, making it the third most visible brand behind only Nike and adidas, respectively. The Italian design and performance features make Lotto product highly sought-after at every level of competition.

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Lotto Elite is a preferred pricing program designed around and for the coach and player, not the brand. We don't think a ranking or rating defines you as a player. We think your grit, determination, love of the grind, attitude and so much more, both on and off the court, define you as a person and makes you Elite.

This is why we wanted to partner with the Hot 100 list. We believe this group of players embody what it means to be Elite. Whether you're a 2-star or Blue Chip recruit, being on this list means you put yourself out there, went for it, and accomplished a goal. Keep Grinding.

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About James Hill

James Hill is the Assistant Sports Information Director at Trinity University in San Antonio and a freelance writer. He has covered all levels of tennis competition.