Zoned Sports Academy proudly celebrated 48 high school athletes from northern and central New Jersey on March 6 during its annual Signing Day event, recognizing student-athletes who officially committed to continuing their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.
“It is our ultimate goal to see our kids play collegiately, and we take pride in seeing so many of our student-athletes enter the next chapter in their academic and athletic careers,” says Duke Baxter, Zoned Sports Academy owner and former professional baseball player. “Some of these kids have trained with us for over 10 years, and we are incredibly proud to see them achieve their dreams.”
Since its founding 22 years ago, Zoned Sports Academy athletes have collectively earned more than $24 million in college scholarships. The athletes recognized at this year’s Signing Day represented a wide range of high schools, including Bridgewater-Raritan, Summit, The Hun School, Union Catholic, St. Thomas Aquinas, North Hunterdon, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Governor Livingston, Gill St. Bernard’s, Immaculata, Montgomery, Hillsborough, Pingry, Seton Hall Prep, Easton, South Plainfield, Freedom, Randolph, Oratory Prep, Ridge, Bernardsville, Hunterdon Central, Mount Saint Mary and North Plainfield.
These student-athletes will continue their academic and athletic journeys at many of the nation’s top colleges and universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University, Villanova University, Pepperdine University, Purdue University, Lehigh University, Boston College, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hofstra University, The College of New Jersey, Rutgers University and others.
During the ceremony, each athlete walked the “turf carpet,” signed their commitment certificate, and received a personalized jersey as a memento of their achievement. The event was filled with energy and emotion, as proud families, coaches and teammates gathered to celebrate this significant milestone.
“This is one of our favorite days of the year,” Baxter shares. “It’s a celebration of years of dedication, early mornings, late nights and sacrifice — not just by the athletes, but by their families as well. It’s incredibly rewarding to see it all pay off.”
For Zoned Sports Academy, the 2025 Signing Day was more than a ceremony — it was a tribute to perseverance, growth and future success. As Baxter looks ahead, he remains committed to shaping the next generation of student-athletes ready to excel on and off the field.
“It’s a celebration of years of dedication, early mornings, late nights and sacrifice — not just by the athletes, but by their families as well.” - Duke Baxter