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The University of Texas men have landed their second star distance freestyle recruit in less than three weeks, with Turkey’s Kuzey Tuncelli announcing his commitment to the Longhorns on Monday.
SwimSwam has reached out to Tuncelli to determine when he’ll be joining the Longhorns, though presumably, it sounds like it could be the fall of 2026.
Hello Texas! Hello @texasmsd !
I’m excited to share a major step in my career and my life.I’m honored to announce that I will be joining the University of Texas for the next chapter of my journey. I want to thank Bob Bowman, Erik Posegay, and the entire Texas family for giving me this opportunity.
My deepest gratitude goes to my coach Aykut Çelik, my club Fenerbahçe, our Federation, and all of our staff — the people who played a huge role in getting me to this point and who will continue this journey with me.
A long adventure awaits us. Sending my love and respect to everyone who’s been with me and to all sports fans! #HookEm 🤘🧡
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Tuncelli, 18, is the fastest junior in history in the boys’ 1500 freestyle, owning the World Junior Record of 14:41.22, which he set en route to placing 5th at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. At those Games, where he was still just 16, he also finished 11th in the men’s 800 free (7:47.29).
Those performances came in the middle of a breakout year for the Kocaeli, Turkey, native, as one month prior to the Olympics, he won gold at the 2024 European Championship in Belgrade, clocking 14:55.64 in the 1500 free, just shy of the 14:54.23 PB he held from July 2023.
In December 2024, Tuncelli claimed the bronze medal in the men’s 1500 free at the Short Course World Championships in Budapest, clocking 14:20.64 to set a new (official) World Junior Record in the SCM event. He also placed 16th in the 800 free (7:42.39), though he was faster opening up his 1500 (7:38.76).
Tuncelli has been having another banner year in 2025, first winning double gold in the 800 free (7:46.01) and 1500 free (14:45.05) at the European Junior Championships in early July, setting a new Turkish Record in the former, and adding a bronze medal in the 400 free (3:49.50) with a new best time.
One month later, at the 2025 World Championships, Tuncelli placed 6th in both the 800 free (7:49.09) and 1500 free (14:52.44), having gone quicker in both in the prelims. In the heats of the 800, he set a new Turkish Record of 7:45.13, while in the prelims of the 1500, he clocked 14:45.28 to advance 3rd overall into the final.
At the end of August, Tuncelli successfully defended his World Junior titles in the 800 and 1500 free. After sweeping both in 2023 in Netanya, he doubled up in 2025 in Otopeni, claiming the 800 free (7:46.52) and 1500 free (14:48.81).
TUNCELLI’S BEST TIMES
| Event | LCM PB | SCM PB |
Conversion (Fastest)
|
| 1500/1650 free | 14:41.22 | 14:20.64 | 14:15.50 |
| 800/1000 free | 7:45.13 | 7:38.76 | 8:41.15 |
| 400/500 free | 3:49.50 | 3:45.05 | 4:17.14 |
| 200 free | 1:52.04 | 1:50.07 | 1:38.05 |
On Oct. 31, Texas landed the top-ranked domestic recruit in the boys’ high school class of 2027, Luka Mijatovic, and now, with the addition of Tuncelli, the two are poised to become the most dynamic distance free duo in NCAA history.
Based on Tuncelli’s converted times, he would’ve won the 2025 NCAA title in the 1650 free by nearly six seconds and moved to #2 all-time in the event. Indiana’s Zalan Sarkany won the title this past March in 14:21.29, with Texas’ Rex Maurer finishing as the runner-up in 14:25.22. The only swimmer in history who has been quicker than Tuncelli’s 14:15.50 conversion is Bobby Finke, who clocked 14:12.08 at the 2020 SEC Championships.
In the 500 free, Tuncelli’s converted time of 4:17.14 slips under the 2026 NCAA qualification time of 4:18.07, but is still a far cry from what it took to score last season (4:13.15).
His converted 1000 free of 8:41.15 would slot him 8th on the all-time performers’ list, though that event isn’t contested in Division I championship meets.
Tuncelli’s clear strength is the mile, but given the ability he’s shown in the distance events as a teenager, there’s no doubt that he should be able to develop into an elite 200/500 freestyler once he arrives in Austin and starts working with Bob Bowman.
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Relative to Mijatovic (in long course), Tuncelli is significantly faster in the 1500 and about eight seconds faster in the 800, while Mijatovic has the upper hand in the 400. Given they’ve got different strengths, working together every day should pay dividends for both at Texas.
The aforementioned Maurer is the defending NCAA champion in the 500 free (4:05.35), having broken the American Record early in the 2024-25 season in 4:04.45, and the reigning champion in the 200 free is fellow Longhorn Luke Hobson, who has graduated but continues training in Austin.
The Texas men are coming off winning the 2025 SEC and NCAA Championship titles in their first season under Bowman as head coach, and in addition to the standout collegiate program, the pro group in Austin is widely regarded as the best in the country with Hobson joined by the likes of Leon Marchand, Summer McIntosh and Regan Smith.
Maurer is currently in his junior year, so if Tuncelli does arrive next fall, they’ll have one season coinciding. Additionally, Texas has ranked recruits in the class of 2025 on the roster as freshmen this season in #3 Campbell McKean and HM Aiden Hammer, along with Frenchman Rafael Fente-Damers.
If he is planning on joining the Longhorns next fall, Tuncelli joins #3 Rowan Cox, #4 Austin Carpenter, BOTR recruits Andrew Maksymowski and Minkyu Noh, Canadian standout Laon Kim and Israeli World Championship semifinalist Alexey Glivinskiy in the Texas boys’ class of 2026.
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Why even host an NCAA championship for the next few years? Texas has bought the title for the foreseeable future. Seems like a waste of money to host the meet imo.
What’s the likelihood of Bowman’s swimmers medal in every men’s event at LA 2028?
I think just his US swimmers will have a chance to be on the podium in about half of the men’s events. Include this guy in distance free, Marchand, Kos… I think the only weak events are the 50/100fly (Casas could best bet).
There is a kid who was committed for well over a year who hasn’t signed….was his spot given away to make room for this?
Maksymowski?
Yes he’s going to SC now
Honest question. Will Texas men be the first team to leave a world record holder or Olympian off their NCAA team?
No
Funny thing is I remember reading somewhere of a high school once left an Olympian off their state team. I just can’t remember who it was or which high school it was.
Or will Texas be the first team that doesn’t bother to taper and shave for NCAAs because they’ll win anyways?
heard he’s been committed for over a year to Texas
Does anyone know about the two other swimmers who haven’t signed yet?
For 26′ they already have 6 swimmers
And still 2 more to sign?
I remember @swimupdates posted that Nowacki was on a recruit tour to Texas?
He took visits. Has turned down a couple already, but hasn’t made a final decision.
has turned down a couple schools?
I know of at least one that he visited and then later called and said “no thank you” to.
interesting. ok thanks
Going to Loughborough
Going to Loughborough
Minkyu and Maksymowski?
Found this. Don’t think Maksymowski and Minkyu Noh have spots anymore. https://texaslonghorns.com/news/2025/11/17/mens-swimming-and-diving-no-1-mens-swimming-and-diving-lands-six-signees-for-2026-class
Thanks
The rich get richer, even in swimming
So what happened to the Maksymowski kid? Did Bob pull his offer?
His commitment picture is still up and he shared Devireaux’s Texas commitment picture today.
So…IDK…I can ask, but still seems on track for Texas?
but he didn’t share Tuncelli’s….