It’s that point of 12 months once more once we at SwimSwam rank out the highest 20 highschool swimming prospects within the upcoming NCAA recruiting class.
As school recruiting has reached earlier and earlier into highschool courses, we’re frequently increasing our recruiting ranks and protection. Final summer season, we ranked out the then-sophomore class. That is primarily a re-rank of that class, bearing in mind a 12 months of enhancements. Keep tuned to our recruiting channel for extra additions to our yearly recruiting protection:
- Women & boys ranks for present juniors – highschool class of 2025 (up to date rankings from our “Manner Too Early” rankings final spring)
- Manner Too Early ranks for present sophomore women & boys – highschool class of 2026
- Re-Rank of outgoing senior women & boys – highschool class of 2024
THIS CLASS
- Three generational abilities on the prime who dominate
- A ton of distance free expertise
- Nonetheless not many pure sprinters, particularly in backstroke and butterfly
The boys’ highschool class of 2025 shall be remembered as a historic. On the conclusion of their junior years, we’ve already obtained Luke Ellis, a swimmer who’s already quick sufficient to win NCAAs; Thomas Heilman, a 17-year-old U.S. Olympian; and Maximus Williamson, the quickest excessive schooler ever in three completely different occasions. These three swimmers are generational abilities, who lead the category in all however two occasions. Particularly, loads of different swimmers who would have been on the prime of their specialty in different years have to take a seat in second or third on this class due to Heilman and Williamson.
Along with having generational abilities, the category of 2025 will even be recognized for its distance prowess. There are 5 completely different swimmers with sub-15 minute miles after there have been none within the 2024 and 2023 junior courses, and a whopping eleven swimmers with sub-4:20 500 free instances. A number of swimmers who would have been top-ranked swimmers in different years have been overlooked just because there was an excessive amount of depth on this 12 months’s class.
The one weak spot on this 12 months’s class is an absence of pure dash specialists, particularly within the 100 again and 100 fly (this was a difficulty with the category of 2024, however it’s even worse in 2025). There are solely three sub-47 100 backstrokers, and one sub-47 butterflies. By comparability, there have been 4 sub-47 backstrokers and 5 sub-47 flyers in final 12 months’s junior class. As well as, Marvin Johnson is the one swimmer within the prime 20 whose greatest occasions are the 50 and 100 free.
Now, let’s get began.
TOP TIMES IN THE CLASS OF 2025
THE METHODOLOGY
Our objective in these rankings is to replicate what school coaches search for in recruits, based mostly on a few years of conversations and protection.
We focus solely on American-based athletes, just because there may be a lot uncertainty with worldwide recruits – in the event that they’ll come to america, once they’ll come to the States and with what graduating class they need to be ranked. Projecting worldwide recruits typically turns into extra of a dialogue of when they’ll first be part of a university program and never which program they’ll be part of.
A couple of different elements that weigh closely in our rankings:
- Relay Worth – Relay factors rely double in school swimming, and any program wants a powerful steady of high quality sprinters to fill out all 5 relays with stars. Clearly, a particular distance swimmer can simply rank forward of an excellent 100 freestyler, however school swimming typically values a dash freestyler over a distance swimmer, all different elements being equal.
- Enhancements – Precise instances carry probably the most weight by a longshot. However we additionally regulate a swimmer’s trajectory, particularly in deciding between two swimmers with comparatively even instances.
- Quick Course over Lengthy Course – whereas each membership and each swimmer could have a unique steadiness of focus between brief course and lengthy course swimming, the NCAA competes briefly course yards, and that’s going to be the primary issue thought-about in these rankings. Lengthy course instances are one other knowledge level for consideration, however we primarily view them via the lens of what an enormous lengthy course swim might imply for an athlete’s future briefly course.
- NCAA scoring capacity – NCAAs are the massive present for faculty groups, so we’ve weighted NCAA scoring potential very extremely. Swimmers who have already got NCAA scoring instances wind up largely filling out the highest our of rankings. Since school athletic administrators – and by extension coaches – additionally place excessive worth on convention championships, scoring capacity at convention meets can also be a consider our rankings.
- Relative depth within the NCAA and recruiting class – a wealth of elite depth nationwide in a single stroke self-discipline makes an enormous distinction in what instances are thought-about extra useful in that occasion. Occasions rise at completely different charges within the NCAA, however when one occasion will get extraordinarily deep and quick on the school stage, it makes highschool prospects in these occasions rather less useful, comparatively, with a lot of different veteran choices. In the identical means, a recruiting class stacked with swimmers in butterfly, for instance, would make every butterflyer rather less sought-after out there, with a lot of different recruiting choices in a position to present related manufacturing.
After all, there’s no approach to predict the long run, and probably the most concrete knowledge we’ve got to go on are chilly, laborious instances. These rankings by no means imply that every one of those 20 swimmers shall be NCAA standouts, and so they definitely don’t imply that no swimmer left off this checklist will make huge contributions on the NCAA stage.
Disclaimer: there are a lot of highschool juniors within the nation, and no actually good, full, 100% correct itemizing of all of them. When you don’t see your favourite swimmer on the checklist, be at liberty to politely level them out within the feedback. There’s an opportunity that we disagree along with your evaluation of their spot within the prime 20, and as long as it’s carried out civilly, there’s no drawback with variations of opinions. There’s additionally an opportunity that we’ve merely missed a no brainer (we’ve taken each precaution to keep away from that), and if that occurs, we wish to ensure that we appropriate it.
Finest Of The Relaxation
Dash Free:
Distance Free:
Backstroke:
Breaststroke:
Butterfly:
IM:
Honorable Mentions
Ryan Erisman — Laker Swimming — Windermere Excessive College — Windermere, FL **Verbally dedicated to Cal** (Earlier Rank: 11)
Finest Occasions:
- 1650 free: 15:24.48
- 500 free: 4:19.87
- 200 free: 1:36.13
- 100 free: 44.40
- 400 IM: 3:48.42
- 200 IM: 1:48.77
- 200 fly: 1:46.59
It’s not that Erisman obtained worse in contrast. It’s simply that this distance class is so deep, and different swimmers have made greater jumps than him. Erisman’s greatest improvement was within the 500 free, the place he dropped practically 4 seconds. However as spectacular as a 4:19 is for a highschool junior, he’s “solely” the tenth-fastest swimmer within the class. He additionally made incremental enhancements in his different good occasions, and stays a rangey freestyler who is powerful within the IMs and 200 fly as nicely. He’s the seventh-fastest 200 freestyler within the class, in addition to the eighth quickest 400 IMer.
Don’t get us fallacious, Erisman continues to be an exceptional recruit. However his inventory hurts when so many different swimmers are good at what he does.
Norvin Clontz — SwimMAC Carolina — Charlotte Latin Excessive College — Charlotte, NC **Verbally dedicated to Cal** (Earlier Rank: 7)
Finest Occasions:
- 200 free: 1:36.70
- 500 free: 4:19.43
- 1650 free: 15:14.12
- 400 IM: 3:50.44
- 200 breast: 1:56.63
Clontz was the most important faller on this class — he’s been stagnant for the previous two years, with each his 500 and 1650 free instances being from 2022. Nonetheless, the truth that he’s nonetheless an honorable point out reveals simply how briskly he’s even with out bettering. His 500 free time ranks ninth within the class, whereas his 1650 free time is sixth. That being stated, he did see improvement in breaststroke, dropping from a private greatest of two:00.39 to 1:56.63 to turn out to be the fifth-best in his class for the occasion.
The intense aspect is that Clontz noticed lengthy course enchancment in his 200 and 400 free at Olympic trials (although simply incremental within the latter occasion), getting named onto the Junior Pan Pacs group. Which means that he may very well be due for a yards breakthrough this fall.
Bucky Gettys — Texas Gold — Spherical Rock Excessive College — Spherical Rock, TX **Verbally dedicated to Texas A&M** (Earlier Rank: BOTR)
Finest Occasions:
- 200 free: 1:37.85
- 500 free: 4:19.26
- 1650 free: 15:27.13
Gettys is the third swimmer within the trio of “quick distance swimmers damage by the depth of this class,” however not like Clontz and Erisman, his inventory rose as an alternative of falling. This particularly applies to the five hundred free, the place his greatest time went from 4:24.75 to 4:19.26 in a 12 months, making him the sixth-fastest in his class and the quickest amongst the honorable mentions. His different occasions nonetheless want some catching on, however he’s confirmed promise — bettering practically 4 seconds within the 200 free and a second within the mile.
Gabe Nunziata — Previous Dominion Aquatic Membership — StoneBridge College — Suffolk, VA **Verbally dedicated to Tennessee** (Earlier Rank: N/A)
Finest Occasions:
- 100 breast: 54.02
- 200 breast: 1:56.57
- 200 IM: 1:49.20
- 400 IM: 3:51.66
Nunziata is without doubt one of the higher all-around breaststrokers in his class — except for Willis, Cakir, and Bey, he’s the one swimmer to have each sub-54 and sub-1:56 breaststroke instances. However the primary factor that provides him an honorable point out are his lengthy course instances, as he has a greatest time of 1:00.36 within the 100 breast and a time of two:11.78 within the 200 breast, approaching the Olympic ‘B’ minimize in each occasions. As well as, he made the semi-finals of the 200 breast on the U.S. Olympic trials.
It stays to be seen whether or not Nunziata’s spectacular lengthy course instances can translate in the course of the brief course season, however his outcomes from the summer season are extraordinarily promising.
Zack Oswald — Suburban Seahawks Membership — The Haverford College — Newtown Sq., PA **Verbally Dedicated to Notre Dame**
Finest Occasions:
- 100 again: 46.82
- 200 again: 1:44.25
- 200 IM: 1:47.61
- 20 free: 20.47
- 100 fly: 48.88
The standout time in Oswald’s resume is his 46.82 100 again, which ranks him because the third-fastest swimmer within the class behind Williamson and Amlicke. If he had a sooner 200 again or every other standout occasions, he’d simply be a lock for the highest 20, however none of his different occasions “pop” the best way his 100 again does. That being stated, that race alone places him in prime 20 rivalry, as being a powerful dash backstroker is vital for relays.
Oswald can also be first rate in fairly a couple of different occasions such because the 200 again, 200 IM, and 50 free, making him a flexible swimmer. Contemplating that he wasn’t even talked about in our rankings final 12 months, the long run could be very vivid for him given his development.
Luke Bedsole — Huntsville Swim Affiliation — Huntsville Excessive College — Owen Cross Roads, AL **Verbally dedicated to Auburn** (Earlier Rank: 16)
Finest Occasions:
- 50 free: 20.04
- 100 free: 43.67
- 200 free: 1:38.09
- 100 fly: 48.05
- 200 fly: 1:46.52
- 100 again: 47.72
There have been loads of swimmers on this class that had 19-high/20-low 50 free pace and 43-point 100 free pace, however what makes Bedsole stand out was his proficiency in different occasions. He’s the fifth-fastest 100 freestyler within the class (and the hole between three and 5 is fairly shut), and on the verge of breaking 20 seconds within the 50 free. He’s additionally sturdy in butterfly and backstroke too, although his fly instances don’t rank as excessive as they did final 12 months amongst this class, accounting for his drop down.
High 20
20. Alex Thiesing — Lakeside Swim Workforce — Saint Xavier Excessive College — Louisville, KY **Verbally dedicated to Michigan** (Earlier Rank: HM)
Finest Occasions:
- 50 free: 20.25
- 100 free: 43.85
- 200 free: 1:35.61
Thiesing’s 50 and 100 free instances are much like loads of swimmers within the “honorable point out” and ‘”better of the remaining” class, however what units him aside is his 200 free time — which no different prime sprinter on this class (except for Williamson and Heilman) has been in a position to method. Within the 200 free, he’s ranked fourth within the class, and is certainly one of simply 5 swimmers who’ve sub-1:36 instances. To be that good on the 200 free along with holding sturdy instances within the 50 and 100 free will make him deadly for NCAA relays.
Final 12 months, we wrote that Thiesing’s 200 free was what made him an “honorable point out’ as an alternative of a “better of the remaining.” This 12 months, he earns prime 20 distinction for a similar motive.
19. Jordan Willis — SwimMAC Carolina —Marvin Ridge Excessive College — Waxhaw, NC **Verbally dedicated to Florida** (Earlier Rank: HM)
Finest Occasions:
- 100 breast: 53.75
- 200 breast: 1:55.30
Final 12 months, Willis was one of many ultimate swimmers minimize from prime 20 consideration. He was and nonetheless is without doubt one of the prime 200 breaststrokers within the class after dropping two seconds this 12 months, rating third general behind Josh Bey and Noah Cakir and being simply 0.21 seconds behind Cakir. Nonetheless, his 100 breast held him again final season. This isn’t the case this 12 months, as he improved his private greatest time from 56.20 to 53.75. Now he’s the fifth-fastest 100 breaststroker within the class, and may rank because the one of many prime all-around swimmers within the stroke.
Willis additionally continues to realize worldwide expertise, qualifying for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacs group after incomes a silver medal within the 200 breast on the 2023 Junior Worlds.
18. Caiden Bowers—Eagle Swim Workforce — McDonogh College — Marriottsville, MD **Verbally dedicated to Cal** (Earlier Rank: 15)
Finest Occasions:
- 100 fly: 47.03
- 200 fly: 1:48.03
- 100 again: 53.95
- 200 breast: 1:58.56
- 200 IM: 1:46.88
B0wers is an outstanding sprinter throughout two strokes, along with being the most effective 200 IMers in his class. He ranks third in his class for the 100 fly behind Heilman and Williamson, in addition to eighth within the 100 breast and ninth within the 200 IM. He strikes down a bit within the prime 20 this 12 months as a result of his occasion rankings amongst different swimmers have dipped, however his pace throughout different occasions along with being a prime dash butterfly retains him on this article. Moreover, he additionally has a formidable 200 breast time. In reality, breaststroke is the place he has improved probably the most since final season, dropping from a time of two:01.23 to 1:58.56. He additionally dropped over two seconds within the 200 IM.
17. Gavin Keogh— Flatiron Athletic Membership — Monarch Excessive College — Erie, CO **Verbally dedicated to NC State** (Earlier Rank: HM)
Finest Occasions:
- 100 again: 47.28
- 200 again: 1:42.88
- 200 IM: 1:49.74
- 400 IM: 3:54.8o
Final 12 months, Keogh was labeled as a one-trick pony who was solely good on the 200 again. It’s nonetheless his greatest occasion, as he’s the second-fastest swimmer in his class for the occasion. However now his 100 again time—which he improved from 48.88 to 47.28 in a 12 months—is powerful in comparison with the remainder of his classmates as nicely, with solely three swimmers being higher than him. This 100 again time provides him added relay worth, and in addition makes him the most effective all-around backstrokers of his 12 months.
Keogh’s IM instances are nowhere close to his backstroke instances, however his improvement in them over the course of a 12 months open up the potential for him so as to add a 3rd occasion.
16. Ethan Ekk — Space Tallahassee Aquatic Membership — Lawton Chiles Excessive College — Tallahassee, FL (Earlier Rank: 19)
Finest Occasions:
- 200 free: 1:35.66
- 500 free: 4:19.35
- 1000 free: 8:56.73
- 200 again: 1:43.81
- 200 IM: 1:48.54
- 400 IM: 3:49.26
Ekk snuck into the highest 20 final 12 months due to his lengthy course achievements, however now his brief course resume alone deserves inclusion on this checklist. He stands out as one of many prime mid-distance swimmers within the class after considerably bettering in freestyle (even given how deep it’s), provided that his 200 free time is simply 0.05 seconds slower than Thiesing’s and that he has a sub-4:20 500 free. However to enhance his mid-distance skills, he’s additionally obtained a powerful 200 again time that ranks prime ten within the class, making for an excellent third occasion. He’s additionally obtained promising IM instances, additional proving his versatility.
15. Crash Ackerly — Nova of Virginia Aquatics — Maggie L. Walker Governors College — Richmond, VA **Verbally dedicated to Yale** (Earlier Rank: N/A)
Finest Occasions:
- 100 again: 47.57
- 200 again: 1:42.89
- 100 fly: 47.96
- 200 IM: 1:47.73
Ackerly got here out of nowhere this 12 months, going from somebody who was not talked about in our earlier rankings to being a top-20 ranked swimmer. Like Keogh, he’s one of many class’s prime general backstrokers, being certainly one of simply three swimmers to go sub-1:43 within the 200 again. He additionally dropped over a second in his 100 again and practically two seconds in his 100 fly, making him a multi-stroke sprinting risk that shall be very useful on Yale relays — particularly within the Ivy League, the place there should not that many tremendous high-level recruits like him coming in in contrast t0 Energy 5 faculties. To cap issues off, he’s obtained a fantastic 200 IM, which supplies him an occasion to swim on day certainly one of championship meets if he doesn’t wish to do a 100 back-100 fly double.
14. Campbell McKean— Bend Swim Membership — Caldera Excessive College — Bend, OR **Verbally dedicated to USC** (Earlier Rank: 14)
Finest Occasions:
- 100 fly: 48.00
- 200 fly: 1:46.75
- 200 IM: 1:44.23
- 400 IM: 3:46.55
- 100 breast: 53.36
- 200 breast: 1:59.63
- 200 free: 1:39.85
McKean earned the No. 14 rank final 12 months by advantage of being a prime two-distance butterflier. He’s barely improved within the 100 and 200 fly since then, however he retains his spot as a result of he’s now turn out to be sturdy IMer as nicely. Each his 200 and 400 IM instances rank fourth within the class, and he notably dropped practically six seconds within the latter occasion. He additionally developed a standout 100 breast day trip of nowhere, bettering from 57.18 to 53.36 to rank because the third quickest swimmer within the class (plus, he’s additionally obtained a sub-two minute 200 breast).
Final 12 months, we talked about that McKean’s 30.3 breaststroke cut up in his greatest 200 IM time then (1:46.77) indicated that he might in all probability be a lot sooner than 57.18 within the 100 breast. And it seems, we have been proper. His 28.99 breaststroke cut up from his present 200 IM greatest is otherworldly — just one swimmer within the NCAA ‘A’ ultimate outsplit him in that stroke.
13. Blake Amlicke — Nashville Aquatic Membership — Pope John Paul II Excessive College — Clarksville, TN **Verbally dedicated to Virginia** (Earlier Rank: N/A)
Finest Occasions:
- 50 free: 19.99
- 100 free: 43.63
- 100 again: 46.62
- 200 again: 1:43.77
In a category that’s weak within the sprints, Amlicke stands out. He’s not solely certainly one of 5 swimmers within the class to have a sub-20 and sub-44 50 and 100 free, however he’s additionally a prime ten 200 backstroker and the second-fastest 100 backstroker within the class. In reality, Williamson is barely 0.4 seconds sooner than him within the occasion, which is a smaller margin than different swimmers who rank third or second within the class behind swimmers like Heilman and Williamson.
Amlicke’s skillset makes him good for a number of relays, and has him becoming a member of a protracted checklist of Virginia sprinting recruits headed to the college within the subsequent few years.
12. Noah Cakir — Workforce Suffolk Swim Membership — Saint Anthony’s Excessive College — Deer Park, NY (Earlier Rank: BOTR)
Finest Occasions:
- 100 breast: 53.28
- 200 breast: 1:55.09
- 100 free: 44.86
- 200 free: 1:37.72
- 500 free: 4:25.98
- 200 IM: 1:45.32
- 400 IM: 3:47.12
What number of prime breaststrokers are additionally good at distance freestyle? Not many, however Cakir is one. Previously 12 months, he’s developed into the clear-cut second-best breaststroker in his class, rating solely behind Josh Bey within the 100 and 200 breast. Nonetheless, not like most breaststrokers, he’s extraordinarily versatile and may swim from the 100 as much as the five hundred free as nicely. As well as, he’s additionally obtained the sixth-fastest 200 IM within the class and a sub-3:50 400 IM. It is a huge distinction from final 12 months, the place his solely standout occasions have been breaststroke and the five hundred free. Now, he’s obtained vary that isn’t seen by many different swimmers.
11. Max Carlsen — Las Vegas Swim Membership — Palo Verde Excessive College — Las Vegas, NV **Verbally dedicated to NC State** (Earlier Rank: BOTR)
Finest Occasions:
- 1650 free: 14:59.44
- 1000 free: 8:57.77
- 500 free: 4:18.87
- 200 free: 1:37.06
- 400 IM: 3:55.24
Now we get to our lengthy checklist of prime distance swimmers within the class, beginning off with Carlsen. He’s certainly one of 4 (!!!) swimmers to have a 1500 free time underneath quarter-hour on this article, and is only a few seconds away from qualifying for NCAAs. As well as, he’s obtained the fifth-fastest 500 free time within the class and a formidable 200 free time that can make him a useful asset for the 800 free relay. It appears unfair to place him this excessive when there are such a lot of swimmers sooner than him, however his instances in itself are too laborious to disregard as he’s getting nearer and nearer to being a right away affect school swimmer as a excessive schooler.
10. Marvin Johnson— McCallie GPS Aquatics — McCallie College — Chattanooga, TN **Verbally dedicated to Florida** (Earlier Rank: 6)
Finest Occasions:
- 50 free: 19.56
- 100 free: 43.31
- 200 free: 1:38.28
- 100 fly: 48.95
Johnson is the quickest sprinter on this class not named Heilman or Williamson (what number of extra instances are we going to say this?), and his 50 free time is—as soon as once more— practically three-tenths away from the fourth-fastest 50 freestyler in his 12 months. We’ve spoken many instances about how vital relay worth is within the NCAA and it’s clear that Johnson will make Florida very completely happy along with his skills. That being stated, his 200 free appears to have developed into his third occasion moderately than the 100 fly, as he dropped over a second within the former occasion however stayed stagnant within the latter.
9. Thomas Mercer — Lakeside Swim Workforce (KY) — Saint Xavier Excessive College — Louisville, KY**Verbally dedicated to Virginia** (Earlier Rank: 8)
Finest Occasions:
- 200 IM: 1:43.74
- 400 IM: 3:46.31
- 100 again: 47.71
- 200 again: 1:44.30
- 100 fly: 47.70
- 200 fly: 1:44.62
- 100 breast: 55.42
- 200 breast: 2:02.33
- 200 free: 1:38.77
Mercer stays the third-best IMer within the class behind (let’s say it once more) Heilman and Williamson, having gotten considerably higher in each the 200 and 400 IM throughout the previous 12 months. In reality, his 200 IM time is now inside 1% of the NCAA ‘A’ minimize, and makes him simply certainly one of three swimmers within the class to go underneath the 1:44 barrier within the occasion.
Final 12 months, we stated that Mercer was one of many few recruits that have been sturdy in all 4 strokes, and that he might simply be a relay risk if he dropped a second in all his 100s. He solely did so within the 100 fly and 100 again, however that’s ok. Nonetheless, he does appear to development towards being a mid-distance swimmer, along with his 200 again and 200 fly instances being precisely the identical. In reality, what provides him the leg up to enter the highest ten once more is that 200 fly time, as solely Heilman is quicker than him within the occasion.
8. Josh Bey — Highland Hurricanes Swim Membership — Hinsdale Central Excessive College — Hinsdale, IL **Verbally dedicated to Indiana** (Earlier Rank: 9)
Finest Occasions:
- 100 breast: 52.98 (greatest in school)
- 200 breast: 1:54.34 (greatest in school)
- 200 IM: 1:44.89
- 400 IM: 3:50.09
Even when his fellow breaststroker classmates like Cakir and Willis have made important jumps, Bey stays the highest breaststroker within the class by an excellent greater margin this 12 months. He’s the one swimmer to have a sub-53 100 breast and sub-1:55 200 breast, and he dropped practically three seconds from 1:57.31 to 1:54.34 within the latter occasion simply this 12 months. After main the category by lower than 0.15 seconds in each breaststroke occasions, he’s now unquestionably on prime.
Bey has developed right into a typical breaststroker than swims the 200 IM as a 3rd occasion, posting the fifth-fastest time in his class for the occasion. He’s an ideal match for Indiana, the place he’ll proceed the custom of sturdy breaststrokers competing for the college.
7. Sean Inexperienced — Lengthy Island Aquatic Membership — Archbishop Molloy Excessive College — Backyard Metropolis, NY **Verbally dedicated to Georgia** (Earlier Rank: 5)
Finest Occasions:
- 1650 free: 14:57.10
- 500 free: 4:18.63
- 200 free: 1:36.20
- 200 again: 1:45.31
- 200 fly: 1:47.78
- 200 IM: 1:47.91
- 400 IM: 3:47.06
Inexperienced didn’t enhance within the mile, however it doesn’t matter due to how good he’s within the occasion. The primary 15-year-old to interrupt quarter-hour within the occasion is sort of two seconds off of NCAA qualification, and ranks because the fifth-fastest swimmer within the class with a time that will have topped the 2024 and 2023 junior rankings. As well as, he additionally dropped two seconds in his 500 free to rank fourth for his class in that occasion, in addition to a second within the 200 free.
Final 12 months, Inexperienced noticed large development within the 200 again and 200 fly. He hasn’t improved in both occasion this season, however as an alternative developed within the IMs. He dropped a second within the 400 IM and from 1:51.65 to 1:47.91 within the 200 IM, permitting him so as to add one other occasion to his already versatile repertoire.
6. William Mulgrew — Shamwut Aquatic Membership — Xavieran Brothers Excessive College — Walpole. MA **Verbally dedicated to Harvard** (Earlier Rank: BOTR)
Finest Occasions:
- 1650 free: 14:48.25
- 500 free: 4:21.56
- 400 IM: 3:54.23
Mulgrew is the lowest-ranked swimmer on this class to have an NCAA-qualification-worthy time, and it’s within the 1650 free. Since final 12 months, he’s improved over 30 (!!!) seconds within the occasion, and he now ranks because the fourth-fastest swimmer of all-time within the 15-16 age group. As well as, his time would have completed second on the Ivy League Championships and 18th at NCAAs — lower than a second off scoring territory. This sort of resume in only one occasion is sweet sufficient to have him ranked this excessive, and makes up for him having not nearly as good of a 500 free time in comparison with a few of his different classmates.
That being stated, Mulgrew’s 500 free nonetheless has a tone of upside. He improved from a time of 4:26.93 to 4:21.56 in a 12 months, and would doubtless be a prime swimmer in his class for the occasion if it weren’t for the ridiculous distance depth of this 12 months.
5. Jason Zhao— Mason Manta Rays — Indian Hill Excessive College — Cincinnati, OH (Earlier Rank: 10)
Finest Occasions:
- 500 free: 4:19.96
- 200 free: 1:33.61
- 100 free: 43.46
- 50 free: 20.09
- 200 breast: 1:59.17
- 100 free: 53.64
- 200 IM: 1:46.11
Zhao stands out for a similar motive that he stood out final 12 months, having freestyle prowess starting from a close to sub-20 50 free to a sub-4:20 500 free. However now, he’s a prime 5 recruit due to his 200 free time, which he improved from a 1:36.16 to a 1:33.61 within the span of a 12 months and makes him the third-fastest swimmer within the class. That 200 free time sits lower than a second away from NCAA qualification, and would make him near the highest of the category (or on prime of the category) in every other 12 months. As well as, he’s developed fast breaststroke pace as nicely, rating because the fifth-fastest swimmer in his 12 months. The identical goes for the 200 IM, the place he’s dropped from 1:52.36 to 1:46.11 — he might probably use that occasion as a day one NCAAs occasion moderately than the 50 or 500 free if he needs to.
Along with being an excellent brief course swimmer, Zhao additionally has huge lengthy course upside. He clocked 48.64/1:47.56 100 and 200 free splits at Junior Worlds final 12 months, and is a part of a gaggle of American male swimmers who might probably shine on the 2028 Olympics.
4. Nathan Szobota — NOVA Of Virginia — Freeman Excessive College — Richmond, VA **Verbally dedicated to Notre Dame** (Earlier Rank: 4)
Finest Occasions:
- 1650 free: 14:53.83
- 1000 free: 8:50.44
- 500 free: 4:18.38
- 200 free: 1:36.93
- 200 again: 1:43.85
- 100 again: 47.93
- 400 IM: 3:49.93
Like Inexperienced, Szobota hasn’t improved all 12 months in his major occasions, however he’s nonetheless one of many top-ranked swimmers in his class. He’s obtained an NCAA-qualification-worthy mile that has him ranked tenth within the U.S. 15-16 age group, the second-fastest 1000 free within the class, and the third-fastest 500 free time within the class (eleventh all-time within the 15-16 age group). Nonetheless, he hasn’t been completely stagnant. He dipped underneath 1:37 for the primary time within the 200 free, and in addition developed sturdy backstroke instances. Within the 100 again, he dropped from 50.24 to 47.93, after which within the 200 again he dropped from 1:46.26 to 1:43.85. Each his progressions within the 200 free and backstrokes improve his vary, in addition to his relay worth.
3. Luke Ellis — Sandpipers Of Nevada — Homeschooled — Las Vegas, NV **Verbally dedicated to Indiana** (Earlier Rank: 3)
Finest Occasions:
- 1650 free: 14:29.48 (greatest in school)
- 1000 free: 8:45.19 (greatest in school)
- 500 free: 4:17.02
- 400 IM: 3:45.21
- 200 again: 1:46.17
- 200 fly: 1:47.23
Now, we go from the elite prospects to the generational prospects. And we begin off with the quickest highschool miler in American historical past.
Ellis’ 1650 free time will not be solely practically seven seconds sooner than what any excessive schooler has gone, however it additionally would have gained NCAAs this 12 months by over a second. What number of highschool male recruits are available in and turn out to be instantaneous title threats? In every other 12 months, this time alone would have made him the No. 1 recruit in his class by a landslide, however sadly, he needs to be positioned behind a literal Olympian and a man who leads his class in seven completely different occasions.
As well as, Ellis has additionally developed different occasions to enhance his mile. He’s dropped three seconds in his 500 free and isn’t far off Williamson’s class-leading time, and he’s additionally obtained a 400 IM time that solely the 2 guys in entrance of him can beat. He is probably not as versatile as the long run Virginia duo, however once we speak about how good this 2025 class is, he needs to be in the identical dialog as them.
2. Thomas Heilman — Piedmont Household YMCA — Western Albemarle Excessive College — Crozet, VA **Verbally dedicated to Virginia** (Earlier Rank: 1)
Finest Occasions:
- 100 fly: 44.67 (greatest in school)
- 200 fly: 1:40.73 (greatest in school)
- 50 free: 19.24 (greatest in school)
- 100 free: 42.00
- 200 free: 1:32.46
- 500 free: 4:19.00
- 200 IM: 1:41.41
- 400 IM: 3:43.63
It feels completely absurd to be placing a 17-year-old Olympian and a man who’s the quickest highschool butterflier of all-time at No. 2. However that’s the place we’re proper now.
Heilman completely deserves his flowers for the explanations said above. He solely noticed incremental enhancements in his greatest three occasions (the 100 fly, 200 fly, and 200 IM) this 12 months, however it doesn’t even matter as a result of he’s nonetheless able to ‘B’ finaling at NCAAs in all three occasions. As well as, he additionally developed NCAA qualification-worthy instances within the 100 and 200 free relay, and a 50 free time that continues to rank first in his class. With these sprinting instances, he’ll be capable to get on Virginia’s relays as quickly as he units foot on campus.
On the finish of the day, Heilman shall be favored to ultimate and perhaps even medal on the Olympic video games, so his brief course yards recruit rating shall be a mere smudge on his resume. However for causes we’re going to go over beneath, we needed to put his future teammate at No. 1.
1. Maximus Williamson — Lakeside Aquatic Membership — Keller Excessive College — Southlake, TX **Verbally dedicated to Virginia** (Earlier Rank: 2)
Finest Tmes:
- 400 IM: 3:39.83 (greatest in school)
- 200 IM: 1:40.81 (greatest in school)
- 500 free: 4:16.84 (greatest in school)
- 200 free: 1:31.37 (greatest in school)
- 100 free: 41.84 (greatest in school)
- 200 again: 1:40.88 (greatest in school)
- 100 again: 46.29 (greatest in school)
- 200 fly: 1:44.84
- 50 free: 19.45
Williamson was already a generational recruit final 12 months, however by some means, he managed to make an even bigger leap than anybody else this previous season.
Now, Williamson is the quickest excessive schooler of all-time within the 200 IM, 200 free, and 100 free, in addition to the third-fastest excessive schooler of all-time within the 400 IM. As well as, he’s obtained different class-leading instances within the 500 free, 200 again, and 100 again. He’s obtained 4 instances—the 400 IM, 200 IM, 200 free, and 100 free—worthy of NCAA qualification in 2024 (and he’s shut within the 200 again). If he competed at NCAAs this 12 months, he would have completed eighth within the 200 free, sixth within the 400 IM, and seventh within the 200 IM. And so as to add on, he’s the second-fastest 50 freestyler and third-fastest 200 flyer within the class.
These are online game instances from Williamson. Final 12 months, Heilman had had benefit on him due to his sprinting skills, however that’s not a difficulty anymore for Williamson due to his 100 free. There may be not a single swimmer on this class who is ready to instantly affect throughout a number of occasions the best way he’s in a position to, and for that motive, he’s our prime recruit within the class of 2025.
BONUS LOOKBACK:
Feeling nostalgic? Right here’s a glance again at our historic recruiting class rankings, plus our retrospectives of these courses after 4 NCAA seasons:
