ODESSA, Texas (April 12, 2026) – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced the recipients of the 2026 Division II Men's Regional Awards, and UT Permian Basin's Nehal Naidoo was named the ITA South Central Region Rookie of the Year.

The ITA is pleased to announce the 2026 ITA Division II Men's Regional Award recipients. Every year the ITA recognizes coaches and student-athletes for their excellence both on the court and in their communities throughout the season. The Division II regional awards include: ITA/Dunlop Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship, ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA Most Improved Player, ITA Senior Player of the Year, ITA Player to Watch, and ITA Community Service Award.

Naidoo was previously named the 2026 Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year, and was Honorable Mention All-LSC for singles. Naidoo was 10-7 overall in singles and was 6-2 in conference play. He led UTPB with in singles wins and was the lone Falcon with a winning record in singles play.

In singles, Naidoo had a winning record in each of the final two months of the year. Naidoo was 4-2 in singles play in the month of March and then went 5-1 in singles during the month of April, with his only loss in the final month being a three-set match where he fell 15-13 in a third-set super tiebreaker. Naidoo finished out this season on a five-match winning streak in singles, including beating a nationally-ranked player from No. 10 LCU (No. 18 Pablo Segura) at No. 2 singles during the final match of the season. It was UTPB's lone singles win this season vs. a nationally-ranked player. During the final two weeks of the season, Naidoo earned LSC Doubles Team of the Week honors (4/23/26) with fellow freshman Joao D'Amorim, and was named the LSC Singles Player of the Week (4/29/26) after the final week of the season. He was then named UTPB's Men's Student-Athlete of the Month for April.

"It is great to see Nehal win ITA Rookie of the Year," spoke UTPB Head Tennis Coach Chris Tolson. "He has a great first year, worked hard and got better every match throughout the year. It is going to be fun to see what he is able to accomplish next season."

Naidoo is UTPB's third regional award winner and first ITA Rookie of the Year in program history. He is the first UTPB regional award winner since 2024 when the Falcons took home both the Wilson ITA Coach of the Year and ITA Most Improved Player awards for the South Central Region.