Sacramento State was one of four teams from California ranked among the nation’s top 20 recruiting classes, joining USC (3rd), Cal (5th) and Santa Clara (17th). The Hornets were also the only team in the Big Sky Conference to receive a top 20 ranking.

Headlining the class is Xavier Smith from El Diamante High School in Visalia, Calif. Smith is currently ranked 18th in the nation and first in Northern California in the boys 18-under division by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). He is also ranked 12th among all high school seniors in the tennis RPI rankings compiled by the Tennis Recruiting Network.

Smith has tallied an 89-22 singles record over the last year at assorted tournaments, and is listed as a five-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network.

Lantin, who is currently a senior at Danville’s Monte Vista High School, is ranked 139th in the nation and sixth in Northern California by the USTA. The Danville, Calif., native has a 34-34 singles record over the last year and is listed as a four-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network.

Both will enroll at Sacramento State in the fall of 2006 and begin competing with the Hornets next season. Sacramento State, which is currently 8-5 overall and 4-0 in the Big Sky, has won five league titles over the last eight years.