“Top 20 Recruiting Roundup” is a new series in which we compile all the verbal commitments for each of the top 20 teams in our NCAA Power Rankings. We’ll compile these lists periodically throughout the college swimming & recruiting season. Recruits listed include all verbal commitments in our recruiting database as of the day we compile this list. Bear in mind that we do not instantaneously know about every single verbal commitment, and there will be some verbals that roll in between when this list is compiled and when it is published.
Texas has loaded up with 4 of our top 20 recruits in the class of 2018, including four men under 1:36.2 in the 200 free.
That’s the upshot of our early look at recruiting among the top 20 programs nationally. Texas is loading up on talent coming off a run of three-straight NCAA titles, and #2-ranked recruit Drew Kibler is a massive pickup through the relay-distance freestyles.
A few other top programs have drawn nice classes as well, though. Our #1 overall recruit, breaststroker/IMer Reece Whitley, has committed to California. USC has only two verbal commitments (at least that we’ve reported), but both are top-15 prospects. Florida pulled four big-time swimmers including blue-chip IMer Kieran Smith (who should be a great fit in the IM-centric Florida program) and 19-second sprint twins Isaac & Willie Davis. Arizona State is also surging under head coach Bob Bowman, getting #4-ranked Cody Bybee and the class’s best backstroker in #13 Noah Henry.
Related:
- Full Class of 2018 recruiting database
- Top 20 Recruits in Class of 2018
- Full 2017-2018 Men’s NCAA Power Ranks: First Edition
Here’s a look at the recruiting hauls for each program. For the sake of brevity, we are listing only the best two events for each swimmer, along with their home state (or country if outside the U.S.). Our list only includes high school graduating Class of 2018 swimmers (sorry early commits, you’ll have to wait for next year) or internationals who have committed during the current recruiting period.
Commits are listed in random order. Ranking numbers are from our previous recruit rankings from the summer and are not updated for more recent swims. All times are in short course yards unless otherwise noted. Times listed with “m” designate long course meters. In general, times listed are the athlete’s top two swims in USA Swimming Power Points or FINA points for long course. (Yes, this doesn’t always show an athlete’s full versatility. Yes, some athletes might have times not listed that “feel” more impressive than those listed. No, point-based ranking systems aren’t perfect. For the sake of consistency and brevity, this is the format we’ll be sticking to in order to realistically compile times from this many athletes).
Reminder: These are not ranks of recruiting classes. These ranks come from our most recent NCAA Power Rankings. The recruits listed are all the verbal commitments we are aware of at this time. If you have a verbal commitment to report, e-mail it to [email protected].
T-#20: HARVARD CRIMSON (2017 NCAA FINISH: 27TH)
- None
T-#20: VIRGINIA TECH (2017 NCAA FINISH: 22ND)
- Alex Wright (WA) – 1:48.60 200 fly, 15:36.58 1650 free
- Ben Hicks (MD) – 1:47.57 200 back, 1:50.68 200 IM
- Brennen Doss (VA) – 15:34.13 1650 free, 4:27.61 500 free
- Dylan Eichberg (VA) – 1:47.37 200 fly, 1:49.85 200 IM
- Henry Claesson (IL) – 48.35 100 fly, 1:37.85 200 free
- #12 Keith Myburgh (VA) – 3:45.85 400 IM, 1:58.60 200 breast
- Philip Manoff (VA) – 1:40.15 200 free, 1:49.11 200 fly
#19: OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (2017 NCAA FINISH: 19TH)
- Benjamin Kuriger (OH) – 1:38.17 200 free, 1:49.75 200 fly
- Hudson McDaniel (OH) – 56.62 100 breast, 2:08.79 200 breast
- Jason Mathews (OH) – 1:59.26 200 breast, 54.42 100 breast
- Josef Pohlmann (OH) – 49.77 100 fly, 21.05 50 free
- Lain Weaver (WI) – 48.92 100 fly, 1:50.25 200 fly
- RJ Kondalski (OH) – 49.33 100 back, 1:49.12 200 back
- Ruslan Gaziev (CAN) – 22.46 50m free, 50.21 100m free
- Stefano Batista (IN) – 2:00.74 200 breast, 55.94 100 breast
#18: MISSOURI TIGERS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 9TH)
- Dane Florea (MO) – 3:52.03 400 IM, 15:21.17 1650 free
- Garrett Clasen (IL) – 2:01.08 200 breast, 1:48.80 200 IM
- Jack Dahlgren (MN) – 48.28 100 back, 1:45.85 200 back
- Jack Dubois (GA) – 15:38.83 1650 free, 4:29.32 500 free
#17: TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 20TH)
- Eien McGee (MS) – 45.56 100 free, 49.82 100 fly
#16: MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (2017 NCAA FINISH: 17TH)
- AJ Bornstein (CT) – 1:58.68 200 breast, 55.99 100 breast
- David Cleason (MI) – 1:50.18 200 IM, 1:52.92 200 fly
- Michael MacGillivray (MI) – 2:01.98 200 breast, 1:51.50 200 IM
- Will Chan (NC) – 1:58.93 200 breast, 53.78 100 breast
#15: AUBURN TIGERS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 12TH)
- Matthew Yish (MA) -47.94 100 fly, 1:48.26 200 fly
#14: PURDUE BOILERMAKERS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 13TH)
- None
#13: TEXAS A&M (2017 NCAA FINISH: 16TH)
- #20 Clayton Bobo (TX) – 43.56 100 free, 19.90 50 free
- Coco Bratanov (TX) – 44.90 100 free, 20.43 50 free
- Ethan Gogulski (TX) – 1:45.07 200 back, 49.57 100 back
- Peter Simmons (TX) – 1:47.73 200 back, 49.73 100 back
- Shaine Casas (TX) – 1:47.59 200 IM, 47.64 100 fly
#12: LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 11TH)
- Colton Paulson (IL) – 4:24.64 500 free, 1:37.67 200 free
- Hayden Curley (FL) – 15:27.18 1650 free, 4:26.70 500 free
- Kyle Worrell (NJ) – 20.79 50 free, 1:38.76 200 free
#11: SOUTH CAROLINA (2017 NCAA FINISH:15TH)
- Coleman Kramer (FL) – 1:40.08 200 free, 4:34.69 500 free
- Garrison Johnson (VA) – 15:27.40 1650 free, 4:00.86 400 IM
- Grayson Schroering (KY) – 2:02.89 200 breast, 57.09 100 breast
- Nathan Walton (SC) – 50.33 100 back, 46.40 100 free
#10: ARIZONA STATE (2017 NCAA FINISH: 14TH)
- #4 Cody Bybee (OH) – 1:34.55 200 free, 46.97 100 fly
- Eddie Michael (OH) – 45.35 100 free, 50.40 100 back
- Elijah Warren (CO) – 54.82 100 breast, 1:50.34 200 IM
- Ethan Luc (OR) – 44.85 100 free, 1:38.41 200 free
- Jakob Icimsoy (AL) – 1:50.74 200 fly, 3:59.18 400 IM
- Khalil Fonder (VA) – 48.46 100 back, 47.63 100 fly
- Liam Bresette (MO) – 1:48.88 200 IM, 1:37.17 200 free
- #13 Noah Henry (TX) – 47.15 100 back, 1:44.81 200 back
#9: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (2017 NCAA FINISH: 10TH)
- Spencer Walker (IL) – 1:45.18 200 back, 48.13 100 back
#8: GEORGIA BULLDOGS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 8TH)
- Bradley Dunham (GA) – 15:19.69 1650 free, 4:24.87 500 free
#7: STANFORD CARDINAL (2017 NCAA FINISH: 5TH)
- Alessandro Boratto (PA) – 48.49 100 back, 1:46.43 200 back
- David Madej (OH) – 44.17 100 free, 48.39 100 fly
- #11 Jack LeVant (TX) – 1:35.42 200 free, 43.98 100 free
- Mason Gonzalez (PA) – 43.62 100 free, 19.99 50 free
#6: INDIANA HOOSIERS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 7TH)
- Brandon Hamblin (VA) – 20.57 50 free, 45.66 100 free
- Jack Franzman (IN) – 43.44 100 free, 19.81 50 free
- Michael Brinegar (CA) – 14:53.52 1650 free, 4:19.80 500 free
- Mikey Calvillo (TX) – 15:15.76 1650 free, 3:53.24 400 IM
- Zach Cook (IN) – 48.60 100 fly, 1:51.30 200 fly
#5: USC TROJANS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 6TH)
- #3 Alexei Sancov (CA) – 1:33.93 200 free, 43.46 100 free
- #15 Ariel Spektor (FL) – 1:46.57 200 IM, 47.39 100 fly
#4: NC STATE WOLFPACK (2017 NCAA FINISH: (4TH)
- Curtis Wiltsey (NC) – 15:44.31 1650 free, 4:27.14 500 free
- John Healy (NC) – 1:46.38 200 back, 49.38 100 back
- Nate Mullens (OH) – 20.45 50 free, 45.45 100 free
- Rafal Kusto (POL) – 1:02.45 100m breast, 2:14.13 200m breast
- Zach Brown (NC) – 3:52.55 400 IM, 48.25 100 fly
#3: FLORIDA GATORS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 3RD)
- Isaac Davis (FL) – 19.93 50 free, 49.30 100 fly
- #8 Kieran Smith (CT) – 1:46.41 200 IM, 3:46.07 400 IM
- #9 Trey Freeman (TN) – 4:16.99 500 free, 1:34.92 200 free
- Will Davis (FL) – 19.82 50 free, 47.85 100 fly
#2: CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 2ND)
- Christopher Jhong (CA) – 1:47.34 200 IM, 3:50.87 400 IM
- Daniel O’Connell (CA) – 49.95 100 fly, 1:41.05 200 free
- Reece Whitley (PA) – 1:52.37 200 breast, 51.84 100 breast
#1: TEXAS LONGHORNS (2017 NCAA FINISH: 1ST)
- Alex Zettle (TX) – 4:19.73 500 free, 1:36.22 200 free
- Charlie Scheinfeld (IL) – 1:59.01 200 breast, 54.63 100 breast
- #10 Daniel Krueger (WI) – 43.38 100 free, 1:35.58 200 free
- #2 Drew Kibler (IN) – 1:33.30 200 free, 42.99 100 free
- #17 Jason Park (TX) – 47.82 100 back, 1:45.79 200 back
- #16 Matthew Willenbring (TX) – 1:47.00 200 IM, 1:35.26 200 free
Jared, Indiana also recently picked up a verbal from Carmel’s Andrew Couchon. He’s sprint freestyle, 20.41, 45.27.
The top teams get the top recruits. Its not hard to figure out that top recruits produce top teams and why they continue to be on top year after year.
you just figured that out? 😉
Too bad it is based on SCY times and focus is on NCAA scoring. Too bad FINA Jr World three-time gold medalist and National teamer is on the honorable mention list, and not making even top 20. Colleges who think beyond just NCAA scoring, but also 2020 would take those National/Junior National teamers. What they would bring and contribute the future teams…very precious.
Not to worry. Abruzzo will very likely go where ever he wants and get exactly what he deserves in the way of scholarship.
Lone Star – assuming you are referencing our individual recruit rankings, I’d defend that SCY focus for several reasons. College coaches are paid and evaluated based on collegiate, short course yards performance. Most coaches even have monetary bonuses associated with how well the team does at conference or NCAAs. In terms of actual job evaluation, long course/Olympic success is only a secondary factor (if that) for most college ADs. Also, when we project recruits, we’re very specific that we are projecting their impact on the NCAA. Long course experience has some bearing on that, but not nearly as much as short course yards. Closely related to that is the reality that the NCAA system values sprinting much higher than distance… Read more »
I have a good feeling about Florida picking up Kiernan Smith and Troy Freeman!
Kieran Smith was fire in LCM IM this past summer. Troy is gonna have his IM right.
Caleb Harrington from Tennessee will be a steal for someone. He is considered a 200 flyer but will develop into a sprinter and important relay swimmer. I know some others that followed this same path in college!
Names?
Boiler 2013 grad was mad at me yesterday for pointing out Purdue deficiencies. Above is another example. I would take more scholarship $ and give it to Adam for diving.
UGA women are recruiting well. The UGA men not so much. Who in the top 25 are still available?
Going off of SwimSwam’s rankings:
#6 Mid-D guy Pat Callan
#7 Distance guy Robert Finke
#14 Breaststroker Daniel Roy (who I imagine would be even higher considering the times he went end of this summer)
#18 Breaststroker Jonathan Cook
Distance guy Andrew Abruzzo and flyer Andrew Koustik were on the Honorable Mention list.
I think Daniel Roy and Andrew Abruzzo visited Stanford last weekend.
Doesn’t Stanfird also have Simon Laman?
Roy and Abruzzo were there last weekend. Roy also took trips to Cal and Michigan, while Abruzzo was at Georgia the weekend before Stanford.
However, I have not seen anything on Simon Lamar being Stanford bound, although i do remember him saying in an interview that he was never going to Stanford… yet.
Collegeswimming.com has his name listed under Stanford.
Roy also went to Texas!
Thanks JP
cooks at Stanford rn
Andrew Abruzzo honorable mention???. That’s crazy.