Northwestern added a key piece to its 2025-2026 roster as Georgia transfer Cyrus Mahjoob announced his commitment to the Wildcats in an Instagram post last week.
The Rockville, Maryland, native and former five-star recruit comes to Evanston with two years of eligibility remaining.
Mahjoob said he considered a plethora of options while in the transfer portal, having taken visits to Florida, North Carolina and Washington. Yet, of the coaches lining up for his signature, it was the persistence and professionalism of NU coach Arvid Swan that stood out from the pack.
Swan worked to arrange a campus visit, Mahjoob said, even when it wasn’t clear whether Mahjoob’s academic credits would transfer to NU.
“He was just willing to go the extra mile for me and make me feel wanted,” Mahjoob said. “When you’re in the portal, a lot of schools talk a lot. They say all these things that they can do for you, but coach Arvid was really willing to show it to me.”
In addition to Swan’s persuasion, Mahjoob said he was drawn to NU by its beautiful campus, proximity to Chicago and academic strength.
Coming from Georgia’s Terry College of Business, Mahjoob plans on majoring in economics and said he was excited to make use of the newfound resources at his disposal.
“I came to the realization alone that I want to be the best in everything I do. And I felt like Northwestern gave me that opportunity,” Mahjoob said. “Not only are the academics great, but the alumni connections and the resources they provide for student athletes moving into the real world are pretty unbelievable.”
Mahjoob appeared in six dual season singles matches for the Bulldogs during the 2024-25 season, posting a 4-2 record while playing in the lower half of the lineup. He found himself fighting for playing time after a strong freshman year in which he finished 10-11 in singles and 10-6 in doubles.
A six-time national champion and 29-time national championship host, Georgia concluded the season ranked No. 27 and exited the NCAA Tournament in the second round.
“I’ve seen the areas of leadership, areas of training, work ethic development, that need to take place for a top program to succeed,” Mahjoob said. “I’ve also seen what lacks in a top program, and when things are missing, how programs that, even with rich histories, can struggle.”
Standing at 5-foot-9, Mahjoob will take to the Combe Tennis Center courts as one of the conference’s shorter players. Yet, the rising junior said he compensates for this size disadvantage with an unmatched work ethic and dogged playing style.
“I like to grind,” Mahjoob said. “I feel like I’m one of the fittest guys on court whenever I step on it. Whether that’s grinding from the baseline, making the extra ball, using the slice, I feel pretty comfortable from all areas of the court, and I feel like I can really wear guys down.”
Before he set foot on Georgia’s campus, Mahjoob was signed to play Big Ten tennis at Michigan as the 22nd-ranked national prospect in his class, according to Tennis Recruiting Network.
But after former Wolverines coach Adam Steinberg departed the program for Florida in June 2023 — the summer before Mahjoob was set to begin his freshman season — Mahjoob followed Steinberg to the SEC, flipping his commitment to Georgia.
Mahjoob’s Big Ten prospects appeared short-lived — yet, two years later, he is preparing to make a conference debut years in the making, this time by the western shores of Lake Michigan.
“I guess it does feel a little bit full circle,” Mahjoob said. “I love all the guys on the team that I would have been on with, and I’m ready to compete against them wearing purple.”
The addition of Mahjoob figures to fortify a Wildcat lineup undergoing significant turnover. Three of the top four players in the past season’s typical singles lineup — Saiprakash Goli, Felix Nordby and Max Bengtsson — are graduating.
Joining Mahjoob as new additions in the fall are a trio of five-star freshmen: Cooper Han, Dylan Fayerman and Jacob Golden. NU boasts the 16th-ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to Tennis Recruiting Network.
“(The coaches are) expecting me to come in and make an impact, and I’m expecting the same on court, whether that’s through matches or off-court leadership,” Mahjoob said.
The ’Cats are coming off their second consecutive season missing out on the NCAA Tournament after qualifying in nine of Swan’s first 12 seasons at the reins.
For Mahjoob, the challenge of rejuvenating a storied program going through a rocky period is part of the appeal in relocating to Evanston.
“I’m ready to represent and do everything I can for the program, give my all every day, push everybody up around me and get the program back to where it was,” Mahjoob said.
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