Top Juniors Just Signed With the UPA — More Are on the Way

"We are extremely excited about this unique opportunity for Elsie to become a signed pro, while still having flexibility to be a 12 year old."

If you want to get excited about the future of professional pickleball, consider this: The best player a few years from now could very well be someone we've never heard of.

Until now.

Over the past couple weeks, the PPA has quietly signed a handful of the top-ranked male and female junior prospects, including:

Cam Chaffin - Age 14; Doubles DUPR: 5.885 Ella Yeh - Age 15; Doubles DUPR: 5.246 Elsie Hendershot - Age 12; Doubles DUPR: 5.124 (picture above) Jade Rau - Age 15; Doubles DUPR: 5.068 Tama Shimabukuro - Age 14; Doubles DUPR: 5.434 They might not be household names just yet – they range in ages from 12 to 15 – but they're getting their shot to change that, beginning now.

The plan, PPA Tour Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel Chris Patrick told me, is to expose the next generation to the best talent the game has to offer as soon in their development phase as possible, while also giving them room to grow and mature at their own pace.

"If you look at our stars today — players like Gabe Tardio, Hayden Patriquin, Jorja Johnson, JW Johnson, Dylan Frazier and Anna Leigh Waters — they all started out as teenagers with us," said Patrick.

"It only makes sense that the next generation of PPA Tour stars will be kids who are growing up in the sport. This program gives them a pathway to chase their dreams while at the same time get... FULL ARTICLE FOUND ON: https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/top-juniors-just-signed-with-the-upa-more-are-on-the-way/