Aiden Hayes, #2 in Class of 2021, Verbally Commits to NC State Wolfpack

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There’s got to be some happy coaches in Raleigh right now. In the past two weeks, the NC State Wolfpack got verbal commitments from Grace Sheble (#3 in the class of 2021), her sister Caroline, and now they’ve got a big name recruit from the class of 2021 on the boys side, flyer/freestyler Aiden Hayes.

Hayes, who’s from Norman, OK, swims for the Sooner Swim Club and attends Norman North High School, was ranked #2 on our initial list of way too early recruit ranks for the high school class of 2021.

As a high school sophomore last year, he was already compiling times that would look good on most college teams’ roster, including a wicked fast 46.64 in the 100 fly.

Best SCY Times:

  • 100 fly 46.54
  • 50 free – 19.73
  • 100 back – 47.26
  • 200 fly – 1:47.01
  • 100 free – 45.15

While those rankings may fluctuate a little between now and the spring of 2021, if Hayes holds his spot, he would be the highest-ranked recruit the NC State men have gotten since we started the rankings. Both NC State and Virginia have recently shown an ability to attract top-notched recruits that just a few years ago, seems like they all would’ve gone to more perennial powerhouses like Cal, Texas, Stanford, or Florida.

The Wolfpack coaching staff has had some great results with butterflyers over the past few years. Sprint star Ryan Held make a few 100 fly A-finals at NCAAs, Andreas Vazaois was the back-to-back 200 fly champion in 2018 and 2019, and Coleman Stewart, while primarily a backstroker, has also become one of the best 100 fly guys in college.

While the first two have already graduated, and this is Stewart’s senior year, Hayes will still have fly (and sprint free) talent to train alongside, including Nyls Korstanje, Zach Brown, and a squad of current Wolfpack freshmen who specialized in butterfly.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

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CourtneyCaldwellSuperFan
5 years ago

It’s loash-a-clock, Curty!

Superfan
5 years ago

Where is josh methany going?

SwimminIsGood
5 years ago

Very impressive recruiting for NCState so far, particularly if Boone has given a verbal: Hayes, Boone, Bustos. I felt as though Hayes would go to Texas, so this is a bit of a surprise. Wonder if Connery, also from NC, is considering NCState? That would be quite a stellar class so early on in the recruiting game. Congrats to NCState on those already giving a verbal to the Wolfpack… The recruiting game is always fun to watch/follow. Thx for all the updates, Swimswam and fans….great times!

Oldswimfan
Reply to  SwimminIsGood
5 years ago

Don’t think it’s a surprise. Holloway is the real deal and proven that he can sustain success after losing some of his best assistant coaches over the past few years. The words in town coach Holloway got the green light to build a brand new outdoor pool which would be huge for recruiting in the future (or now).

NC State staff and swimmers have been great for the swimming community in Raleigh. A big fan here… I wish them the best of luck!

Swimmertx
Reply to  SwimminIsGood
5 years ago

David Curtiss was also in Raleigh this weekend. Wonder if he’ll verbal to the Wolfpack as well?

Oldswimfan
Reply to  Swimmertx
5 years ago

Wow… that would be huge

Snarky
Reply to  SwimminIsGood
5 years ago

From an insider, I am told that the current freshman class (as well as the other classes) is making a big impact on the recruits. The class is really tight and really fun to be around. Positive team culture has a huge impact on recruiting. Go Pack!

outsidetrack
Reply to  Snarky
5 years ago

I’m sure that this is totally legit and accurate information and not coming from a parent of one of the freshman who thinks that their sweatpea is just the greatest thing since sliced bread. Surely not.

TBC
Reply to  outsidetrack
5 years ago

@outsidetrack. Actually I can confirm that the freshman class is having huge impact on recruiting. Everything snarky said was completely true. This is from a commit that committed because of the culture and freshman class btw

Snarky
Reply to  outsidetrack
5 years ago

Ooooooo. You not so liked. Hashtag down vote.

ncswimmer
5 years ago

Congrats Aiden! Can’t wait for you to be here!

Oldswimfan
5 years ago

Congratulations Aiden! You will enjoy Raleigh.

I saw on social media that Garrett Boone has committed to NC State as well. That gives the pack a very strong and speedy class of 2021 with Boone, Hayes, and Bustos

CHUMP
Reply to  Oldswimfan
5 years ago

1 more tonight

swimfan210_
Reply to  Oldswimfan
5 years ago

and Sam Hoover too.

Mark Elliott
5 years ago

Welcome to the Okie Wolfpack family. I am from OKC and swam for the Pack along with several other Okies and Texans in the early 70’s. Hope to meet you sometime soon. Great choice!
Mark Elliott 71- 74

Richard Hermes
Reply to  Mark Elliott
5 years ago

Welcome to the Pack, fellow Okie. Great choice. I swam with Mark Elliott at NC State. There were four of us from KMSC in OKC who swam for Coach Easterling at NC State in the 1970s

Swammer
Reply to  Richard Hermes
5 years ago

I love the community building here ! Congrats !!

Dan
5 years ago

Is the 2021 class the best male sprint class ever?

jp input is too short
5 years ago

Wow! Congratulations, Aiden! I wonder what Virginia will think when it sees all of its recruits getting robbed by rival NC State!

Packoastie
Reply to  jp input is too short
5 years ago

He’s from Oklahoma…

Anonymous
Reply to  Packoastie
5 years ago

How does him being from Oklahoma have anything to do with the fact he was robbed from uva?

Snarky
Reply to  Packoastie
5 years ago

Bringing some noodlin’ skills to NC!

DravenOP
Reply to  jp input is too short
5 years ago

wat?

JP input is too short
Reply to  jp input is too short
5 years ago

Hmm.

Someone is stealing my username.

Unhand it, you rogue!

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