Illinois State Record Holder Brady Johnson Bringing Backstroke Talents to Arizona State

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Illinois high school record holder Brady Johnson is joining Arizona State this fall, giving the defending national champions an elite backstroke prospect to help ease the losses of Hubert Kos (Texas) and Owen McDonald (Indiana) over the offseason.

Johnson won the 200 back at Winter Juniors – West last December with a personal-best 1:42.69, dropping almost five seconds off his previous best (1:47.43 from last March) to break the Illinois Swimming 17-18 LSC record. The FMC Aquatic Club 17-year-old followed up that performance with IHSA state records in the 100 freestyle (43.15) and 100 back (46.65) at February’s championship meet. Johnson became the first swimmer to win back-to-back state titles in the 100 back in six years after capturing the 2023 crown in 48.08.

His massive improvements over the year earned him an Honorable Mention spot on SwimSwam’s recent re-rankings for the high school class of 2024 after not appearing on the top-20 list of recruits as a junior.

Johnson’s best times would have placed 3rd in the 200 back, 4th in the 100 back, and 6th in the 100 free at the 2024 Big 12 Championships in February. Next season will be the Sun Devils’ first in the Big 12 after more than four decades in the Pac-12.

Best SCY Times

• 50 free: 20.24
• 100 free: 43.15
• 100 back: 46.65
• 200 back: 1:42.69
• 100 breast: 53.39

Johnson’s best 50 free time would have landed him in the B-final at Big 12s last season as he also boasts promising freestyle times that should make him a strong contender for Arizona State’s relays. The Sun Devils figure to be the Big 12 favorite next year with Texas leaving the conference for the SEC this summer.

Johnson joins v, Finn Kemp, Jacob Pins, Leo Verschooten, Michael Hochwalt, Tolu Young, Quin Seider, Bryce Rohr, and Isaac Fleig in the Sun Devils’ 2024 recruiting class. Next season will be the first under new head coach Herbie Behm, who was promoted after Bob Bowman left for Texas in April following Arizona State’s first national title in program history.

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