Player Profile: Hewitt Ngo

Hewitt Ngo knows hard work and has the tennis game to prove it. 

Selected to play at Sportsmen’s Tennis and Enrichment Center’s second annual UTR College Showcase, the junior from Boston Latin Academy played his heart out alongside a select roster of high school tennis players from New England and Washington D.C.. 

The event platformed players from USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) programs, alongside other local players aspiring to play at the college level and beyond. The showcase provided a rare opportunity for diverse rising stars to demonstrate skill and potential for 13 coaches from nine DII and DIII college tennis programs. 

“I'm pretty happy with how I did at the showcase. I first played a little bit of tennis when I was around eight or nine years old, and then took a really long break to commit to swimming,” said Ngo. “But a few years ago, I got back out on the courts and started training a lot with my dad. Just out there grinding hard, like five or six days a week. And for the past two years, I’d say I have a mix of like, a little bit of talent along with a lot of hard work.” 

Andy Crane, Hewitt’s coach at both Sportsmen’s and Boston Latin, is seeing the work pay off. “He did very well at the showcase, winning all four of his singles and doubles matches. I paired him in doubles with one of the players from the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation because I knew he would be able to work well with his partner even though they had never met.” Impressed with Ngo both on and off the court, Crane has high hopes for the young player. “Hewitt will be the captain of this year's Latin Academy Boys Co-op Team. It’s very rare that I name a junior to be captain, but Hewitt has exceptional leadership qualities. He has already organized captain’s practices and the tennis team’s participation in BLA’s Spirit Day. He has also improved steadily as a player while training at Sportsmen’s. He’s also an outstanding student."

The admiration is mutual.

“Coach Andy has had a crazy, crazy amount of impact on me. He’s provided so many opportunities for me, and for all his players. Both during the school year, and during the summer. By far, he’s been the most influential coach I’ve ever had."