LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The University of Kentucky men?s tennis head coach Dennis Emery announced the signing of Patrick Bandy of Cincinnati, another top regional recruit Monday. The new Wildcat is ranked as the top recruit in the TennisRecruiting.com list of high school seniors in the state of Ohio.

Bandy comes to Kentucky with recent championship experience while playing at St. Xavier High School. As the most valuable player on his Ohio State High School Championship team in 2007, the right-hander played in the state singles final. A year earlier, as a sophomore, Bandy won the doubles championship in the state tournament while his team won the first of back-to-back state titles.

?Patrick is a big, strong guy from a great family,? said Emery. ?He has a great work ethic and we feel he is someone who is going to get a lot better in school. We look for him to impact our line-up as a freshman.?

Bandy joins Eric Quigley, the top recruit listed in Kentucky, to form a strong foundation for the next Wildcat freshman class.

The Kentucky men?s tennis team opens its schedule on Sun. Jan. 27 at Eastern Kentucky in Richmond, Ky. facing the Colonels and the Toledo Rockets.