CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—The University of North Carolina men's tennis program has signed two talented prospects to join the Tar Heel program for the 2026-27 season, head coach Sam Paul announced on Thursday. Prep prospect Lachlan Gaskell and transfer Will Mayew signed athletic scholarship agreements this week with UNC.
"We're thrilled to have Lachlan and Will join the Carolina Tennis family," says Paul. "They're talented players, and they're high-character guys who will fit in well with the rest of our team and the culture we're building with our program. We're excited for them to join us in Chapel Hill." Lachlan Gaskell
Gaskell is a blue-chip recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network with a career-high International Tennis Federation (ITF) ranking of No. 62. The native of Delray Beach, Fla., has been a mainstay in the top 10 of the national tennis recruiting rankings with a high rank of No. 4. He was a finalist in the USTA Boys 16s National Hardcourts in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 2023 and the champion of the 2024 Montreal J200 ITF. Gaskell has a career high Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) of 12.5.
"Lachlan is very, very talented, one of the best junior players in the country," Paul says. "He's also a very nice young man, and we've enjoyed getting to know his family. We're very excited to have him with us."
"I chose UNC because it felt like a family from the first moment," Gaskell explains. "I'm grateful for the chance to grow here on and off the court."
Mayew, a Cary, N.C., native and the older brother of current UNC freshman standout Ian Mayew, played three years at the University of Louisville including as a junior in 2024-25. He has a career-high ITA singles ranking of No. 47 and a top ITA doubles ranking of No. 39, and his best ATP singles ranking is No. 1392. A doubles finalist as a freshman at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional, he was a two-year starter with the Cardinals who was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week on February 27, 2024.
"Will is a tremendous competitor, and we had a chance to see that by playing against him while he was at Louisville," Paul says. "We're happy for him to join us along with his brother, Ian, in Chapel Hill. He will add so much to our program in terms of both leadership and playing ability."
"I chose UNC because not only is it a place where the culture and program will allow me to achieve my goals, but I also will be right at home, which is even more exciting," Mayew says.
The Tar Heels will return to action next week on Tuesday when members of the team will compete at the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships in Orlando beginning on Tuesday. Ian Mayew, Niels Ratiu and Roan Jones all earned singles bids to NCAAs based on their performance at last weekend's ITA Sectional in Chapel Hill, while the doubles teams of Ratiu and Chris Xu and Mayew and Kase Schinnerer will compete in doubles.
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