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TheLotto Elite Hot 100 lists are published each month, and the January Hot 100 lists feature the 100 boys and girls who most improved their rankings during the month of December. You can find out more about the Lotto Elite Hot 100 - and how the lists are calculated - by reading here.

The latest lists, published today, are available here:

• Boys' Hot 100
• Girls' Hot 100

We talked to some of the top performers:

Rex Harrison (La Jolla, California)

Rex Harrison went 7-0 in the month of December in Boys 18 singles and upped his Tennis Recruiting Network ranking from 173^rd to No. 148.

The 5-foot-11 left-hander won the L5 Open in Lakewood, California, and went on to capture the L5 Open Moore Tennis Academy event at Cathedral City, California. Last July, Harrison advanced to the second round of the main draw at the USTA Boys 16 Clay Courts in Delray Beach, Florida, and made it to the third round of the consolation draw.

Three-Star Junior Rex Harrison
© Contributed Photo

“My self-assurance ascended over the summer,” said Harrison, a three-star junior. “This began to take root by playing my first L1 at the National Clay Courts. In the fall, my confidence was fueled as a warmup player for (touring pro) Cam Norrie for the ATP 250.

“This was more stressful than a tournament. For the first time, I felt responsible for Cam’s play. Feeling responsible for someone else’s success is a different type of stress. By the way, he won every match that I warmed him up for! I was holding a rhythm with the ATP No. 12 in the world. However, not to be delusional, he schooled me on his serving and returns.”

Harrison regularly trains with Steve Adamson of the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego.

“I am working on bringing a more commanding presence on the court,” Harrison said of his training regimen. “Starting the match strong and driving the tempo of play. Also, we work on my cerebral game, visualizing that every match is mine. I work hard, I’m here, I’ve earned this, I get this and I love it.”

As a youngster, Harrison participated in soccer, football, baseball, volleyball, bodyboarding and tennis. His mom and dad, Kimberly Pavel and Chip Harrison, backed his desire to focus on the sport of tennis.

“Rex has taken ownership and responsibility for himself,” his parents said. “His play has improved due to his heightened confidence and the improvement in his match tactics. He loves playing tennis, and sincerely enjoys the inspirational people that are life coaches who guide him.”

Speaking of family, Harrison’s grandpa, Frank Pavel, is 97 years old and still plays tennis. His other grandpa Bob Harrison (age 95) played in the NBA and went on to coach basketball and tennis at Kenyon College in Ohio. The younger Harrison said he “has big shoes to fill!”

Harrison attends The Bishop’s School in La Jolla. He has been on the academic honor roll throughout high school, and was the winner of the school’s Social Innovation Project. Additionally, Harrison was presented the Super Service Award.

He has a special interest in astronomy, and finds the subject “exhilarating and fascinating.” Harrison posed a rhetorical question: “How can you not love science that tries to answer the philosophical question of when the universe started, what was there before it existed?”

Harrison is definitely thinking of college, as he will graduate from high school in 2023.

“I would like to attend a selective academic university and contribute to the (tennis) lineup,” Harrison said. “A positive environment where everyone on campus enjoys challenges in the classroom and on the court. College, here I come. I cannot wait to play collegiately.”