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Jett Middleton wasn’t sure how to react. After scratching and clawing for so many years to earn respect on the court, Middleton wasn’t used to being noticed.

Jett Middleton Is Signing with Arizona
© Contributed Photo

He didn’t expect to hear from many major college coaches early in the recruiting process. But on the first day they could begin contacting him during his junior year, Middleton received phone calls as early as 1 a.m.

“That was a unique experience and a bit shocking to me,” Middleton said. “I always felt like I had to prove myself when I was younger. I was not the most athletic kid and not the most talented. I was just gritty and competitive and in peoples’ faces. But when I started getting recruited, I felt like people wanted me.”

The confidence boost made Middleton even more eager to play college tennis. Having watched Jim Courier’s documentary Unstrung, Middleton was familiar with University of Arizona head coach Clancy Shields.

Middleton took a visit to the Arizona campus last November, and liked what he saw. He committed to the Wildcats from the airport as he was flying home. The five-star senior from Columbine Valley, Colorado will make it official when he signs his National Letter of Intent this week.

"I wanted to go somewhere that not only had a really good program, but where it really felt like a family atmosphere,” said Middleton, whose first name is Calvin but goes by his middle name Jett. “I really felt that at Arizona. When I went on my visit, all the guys on the team felt like brothers. I felt really welcomed and like I was already part of the team."