2022 Pac-12 finalist Jade Hannah has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after one season at USC.
Hannah was originally scheduled to begin at USC in 2020, but amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Tokyo 2020 Olympic delays, she didn’t arrive until the fall of 2021.
The 20-year old Hannah is a five-time World Junior Champion, having represented Canada at that meet in both 2017 and 2019. In 2017, she won individual gold in the 50 backstroke along with both women’s and mixed medley gold medals; in 2019, she won the 100 and 200 meter backstrokes individually. She also has a silver and three bronze medals across those two meets.
As a freshman at USC last season, she placed 22nd at Pac-12s in the 50 free (22.74), 9th in the 100 back (52.77), and 8th in the 200 back (1:55.82). She hasn’t raced since those Pac-12 Championships in February.
Hannah’s best long course times in her primary events all came from 2019.
Hannah’s best times, LCM and SCY:
| LCM | SCY | |
| 50 free | 25.8 | 22.68 |
| 100 free | 56.26 | 50.33 |
| 50 back | 27.91 | 25.23 |
| 100 back | 59.62 | 52.66 |
| 200 back | 2:09.28 | 1:53.99 |
With the graduation of Aussie Calypso Sheridan at the end of last season, Hannah was the odds-on favorite to take over the backstroke leg on the Trojan medley relays. That duty now probably falls to rising junior Caroline Famous (52.77 100 yard back last season). While the USC women do have a very good incoming class this fall, none of that group are primary backstrokers. IMer Justina Kozan could occupy many medley relay spots, though, with bests of 53.35 in the 100 back, 52.42 in the 100 fly, and 49.05 in the 100 free.
Because Hannah entered the portal after May 1, she would need an NCAA waiver to be eligible to compete this fall. Entering the portal does not require a student-athlete to transfer; rather, it gives them more freedom to discuss the possibility of a transfer with other programs.
The 2021-2022 season will be Lea Maurer’s first opportunity to lead the program on a full-time basis. She served as the interim head coach in the 2020-2021 season while Jeremy Kipp was placed on administrative leave.
I wonder if she had some scholarship money taken away. Also what is with all the late entries into the portal this year.
Jade Hannah has a strong connection to Texas, specifically Dallas. We can’t be sure where she’ll end up but signs point to SMU.
Wonder if her following UVA on IG (only other college swimming account she follows) means anything here 👀
Hasn’t yet for some of the others that have been following them
hmmm this is strange. Maybe Maurer wasn’t a fan of her. The amount of swimmers entering the portal from SC is ridiculous, and most of them are FAST! Maybe she didn’t fit the “culture” and she was forced out. What a shame. Best of luck, Ms. Hannah!
I’ve lost track of the number of talented USC swimmers exiting the program via the transfer portal but just a few coming in. Maybe it’s a culture or personality issue but I’d like to see some positive recruiting results for the Trojans. A number of excellent Cal women swimmers left after the McKeever issue, but none have headed south to USC. If Rex Maurer decides to go anywhere else but USC, the Trojan could end up with a big “swing and a miss”.
Elise Garcia is going to USC, albeit for grad school
Usc is a dumpster fire right now. lea maurer is running program into the grounds. First danny matheson, now jade hannah. Many more to come
I’m trying to take a long view on this issue of the future of USC Swimming. Start with the understanding that USC AD Mike Bohn knows what he’s doing and has empowered Maurer to make the changes necessary to get the program back on an upward trajectory. Roster “adjustment” (transfer portal) is a necessary first step and this happened with USC football and women’s basketball. A lot of athletes leaving and hitting the transfer portal. That clears spots on the roster.
Outflow is necessary but even more important is inflow of transfers and new talent. If the new inflow includes elite national and international transfers, the problem is solved. If not, Trojans are worse off. I was disappointed to see… Read more »
I have to take the long view of this. The staring place is the understanding that at USC AD Mike Bohn knows what he’s doing and has empowered Maurer to make any necessary changes to move the Trojans into an upward trajectory. A similar pattern for Maurer as it has been with new USC coaches in Football (Riley), Women’s Basketball (Gottlieb) and now baseball (Stankiewicz): New coach = new culture = athlete transition out and athlete transition in (via Transfer Portal). Football transition happened the most abruptly. Within days of Riley’s hiring over a dozen players hit the portal including multiple starters and even all Pac-12 players. But the transfers in have been stellar including starters at D1 Power 5… Read more »
Well the talent has not poured in whatsoever. Also, the team can only get the scholarship if the person cut leaves the school. So far no one on the mens team has left the school so she is paying half of her scholarships for kids to sit out. Unfortunately it is gonna be too late for program I would think. Lea maurer runs the program like a crazy spouse. Grudges and full of delusion.
I think she should go to Minnesota
Insiders have told me she is A2 bound.
I heard SMU.
Me looking for the comment that she is going to SMU