Obi Afriyie an Organizer and life long tennis fan. He is the son of Ghanian immigrants, who moved to East New York seeking Asylum. After spending 5 years in Syracuse completing his Bachelors and Masters in the Cultural Foundations of Education, he eventually found his way back home to the 718. Obi finds joy in being a menace to supremacy, and working with like minded individuals. Catch him in his free time teaching tennis all over the borough, or trying to find the perfect plate of Jollof.

Kiel started playing tennis in his home county of Trinidad & Tobago after being an avid fan of the sport on TV. He migrated to Baltimore, MD to attend Morgan State University where he studied theatre and was a walk-on on the college’s tennis roster for 2 years. After graduating he moved to NYC because he wanted to be as close to art and artists as he could. Kiel has also made use of his Math knowledge by being a math tutor and mentor to middle and high school students. Last summer, Kiel began coaching with HQ Tennis and is excited to be a part of KCTL where he can continue being a mentor to the youth!

Efi has been a part of Kings County Tennis League since 2013. She joined having no tennis experience at the encouragement of a friend. Witnessing and aiding in the emotional and skill-based growth of the kids who participated in our program led Efi to continue since then. Being part of a team with adept, energetic, and compassionate volunteers has made it all the more edifying. By day, Efi works as a graphic designer and, whenever she has time, she writes and makes films.

Lola grew up in Vero Beach, Fla. and started playing tennis at 12 years old. She immediately fell in love with the sport and went on to play Division III tennis for Amherst College in western Massachusetts. Lola moved to Brooklyn in 2022 and after learning about Kings County Tennis League, she knew she had to get involved. She loves working with children and watching them grow both as players and as kind, confident individuals. When she's not coaching, she's working her day job in journalism (which has included covering the U.S. Open twice). Lola still gets out on the court as often as she can, and enjoys practicing yoga as well.

Originally from northern Colorado, Erica grew up playing tennis, where she won multiple high school regional titles and a doubles medal at State. After taking almost a decade away from her racket, she rediscovered her love for tennis through playing with ALTA in Atlanta and now in New York, through KCTL. As a Bed-Stuy resident, Erica enjoys connecting with her local community over the sport. You can often find her at the various public courts around the neighborhood - and if you do, please say hello! When not on the tennis court, Erica is a Registered Architect with a focus on multi-family housing in multiple cities across the United States.

Madison is a Connecticut native, who grew up playing tennis — competing in high school and coaching in college. After moving to New York in 2019, Madison quickly discovered KCTL and has been volunteering since 2021. Madison is always excited to connect on or off the court — feel free to shoot him an email!

Taiya Hansen is a current student at Columbia University majoring in Biology and minoring in Classics. She has played tennis for more than 10 years and loves the sport as well as coaching.

My name is Branden Jones. I am a 25 year old college student striving to become a teacher. My passions include playing sports, meeting new people, and educating the youth. My welcoming personality and always encouraging attitude has helped me become a Teachers assistant and now an education coordinator for KCTL. 

Like many kids at KCTL, Adam began playing tennis by smacking a ball against a wall for hours at a time. After many years being taught by people with a passion for the game, he eventually became a highly ranked junior player. But it wasn't until working with KCTL, its staff and volunteers, and the most important component - our children - that he discovered his love for tennis. Adam has worked at Lafayette Gardens, led Upswing and after-school programs, as well as taught pee-wees at BKS sites throughout Brooklyn, a program for pre-K students that KCTL has pioneered.

Tiara grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn. She is currently a Daycare Provider in Fresh Meadows, Queens. Prior to that she was a community school tutor at Junior High School 8 in Jamaica, Queens. While working at Junior High School 8 she used her free work periods to mentor students. The sessions entailed helping students to build their self-esteem, find and become comfortable with their likes and beliefs. As well as to understand and accept the likes and beliefs of their peers. Joining the KCTL family as an Education Coordinator she is excited to help the children incorporate who they are and what they love to do into playing tennis. Not only to excel at playing tennis but to have fun while doing it. Tiara is eagerly looking forward to trying something new and learning how to play tennis from the children at KCTL.

Sandra is an accomplished tennis player and coach with an exemplary record representing her country and leading teams to championships and other victories. Hailing from Uganda, she has played in Fed Cup matches, captained the top club (PTC Warriors) to victory in the Ugandan Tennis League (KPTL) in 2019, and captained the Makerere University Business School tennis team, winning the University Games three times.

Samantha Mateo was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. As she has played Tennis as a hobby since she was 4 years old, Samantha grew a strong passion for playing the sport. Her energetic energy and positive attitude she brings to the program comes from her desire and passion for youth development, building community, and athletic development. Samantha is enthusiastic to share her passion for athletics and motivation for youth development to KCTL.

Raised in Miami, Florida, Kalia picked up tennis at age 8 and rallied on the court through middle and early high school. Although she’s played recreational tennis with family and friends through the years, volunteering with Kings County Tennis League at Marcy and GoGirlGo! programming in 2023 has pushed Kalia to return to the sport she cherished. When off the court, Kalia covers the entertainment and music industry for Rolling Stone, and disconnects through weekly vinyasa yoga classes and tending to her indoor garden.

Matty started playing tennis at age five in his hometown of Cape May, New Jersey. He developed a passion for tennis early on and became a four-year varsity player in high school. He continued his tennis career at Salisbury University before moving to New York City and transferring to Brooklyn College to pursue a degree in Film Production. He has combined his love for tennis and media by producing training videos and social content for tennis brands. His expertise in the sport also led him to work as the tennis choreographer for HBO Max’s And Just Like That, where he worked closely with talent to bring realistic tennis action to the screen. Matty brings nearly a decade of coaching experience to the team, having worked with players of all ages and skill levels to develop their technique and love for the game. He is excited to share his knowledge and enthusiasm, helping players grow both on and off the court!

Dennis is a backhand and volley obsessed tennis fanatic who has played the game non-stop since picking it up in college. He has served on the boards of local tennis associations in San Diego, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and New York City, and has previously coached youth during Arthur Ashe Kids Days at the US Open and with Brooklyn's Highland Park NJTL chapter. A devoted student of tennis history, Dennis has watched the pro game evolve in real time since the 1980's, and he has read dozens of tennis memoirs, biographies, histories, reference works, and instruction manuals (ask him about his favorites). He plays USTA and pickup tennis - as well as padel and squash - on courts throughout the five boroughs.

Henryetter Singh was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Her 6 years of experience span from operations, mentoring, youth development, and education. Her energetic energy and passion stems from her desire to work in a career that values teaching, learning, developing, and building community.

Grace began playing tennis at the age of 9, and played competitively through her teens. She rose to top rankings including the Top 300 nationally. The USTA also awarded her the 14U Sportsmanship award. Grace was trained by internationally known coaches and has also coached children during her summers with two clubs in NJ. Grace was also the first seed on her high school team. She is currently a Sophomore majoring in Sociology at Pace University in NYC. Her reputation as a compassionate, fun-loving, and kind person makes her a perfect addition to the KCTL family which she is incredibly excited to be a part of!

Denise was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and loves her city. She enjoys cooking and taking spontaneous road trips, as well as being outdoors and active in general. She is the first of her family to attend and graduate from college, which she is proud of. Her favorite sports include gymnastics and jogging (if that counts). She is excited to start the KCTL journey!