IRVINE, Calif. - Jonathan Star has been on a unique journey since graduating from Viewpoint High School in Calabasas. With stops in Louisiana, Northern California and Indiana, Star is now returning home to Southern California to complete his collegiate career at UC Irvine.
 
"I recruited Jon a few years back when he was transferring from Tulane," said UCI head coach Mike Saunders. "His college tennis career has been a rocky road with injuries, but he is now healthy and hungry as ever. Jonathan has already proven he can win in both singles and doubles in the Big West. He is also a natural leader and the type of individual who unites his teammates."
 
Star was a five-star recruit at Viewpoint where he earned first-team All-Alpha League honors all four years, and was named the Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. The three-time league champion helped his squad make four consecutive appearances in the Round of 16 at the CIF-Southern Section Team Playoffs. He also advanced to the semifinals of the 2015 CIF-SS Doubles Championship.
 
Following his graduation in 2016, Star headed to New Orleans, taking his talents to Tulane. As a true freshman, he recorded eight overall singles wins, and was named to the 2016-17 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
 
Star then transferred to UC Davis where he went 9-12 in singles and 12-8 in doubles in one season with the Aggies. Due to injury, Star has not competed collegiately since the 2017-18 campaign, but recently earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana University. In 2019-20, Star served as a manager for the Hoosiers' women's tennis team.
 
Star is now set to make his competitive return to the collegiate tennis scene as an Anteater while pursuing his Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in UCI's Paul Merage School of Business.
 
"Jonathan's circuitous route to becoming an Anteater, while mired with adversity, has given him a deeper appreciation for the game and renewed his spirt as a competitor," added Saunders. "I'm excited to see him play his most inspired tennis as an Anteater."