Re-Rank: Top 20 NCAA Swimming Recruits In The Boys’ High School Class of 2026 ...Middle East

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

Our annual NCAA recruiting rankings return. This year, we’re opening things with our re-rank of the graduating high school seniors before we take a look at the top recruits in the current sophomore and junior classes.

As recruiting classes get closer to actual NCAA competition, we start to weigh certain factors more heavily: NCAA scoring times become more important, and we tend to value one or two standout events a bit more heavily (compared to a wide range of just decent events) than we would for a high school sophomore who has more time to develop across the board. Having already ranked this class about a year ago, we also get a clearer picture of momentum and trajectory: which recruits are continuing to drop time throughout their senior seasons, and which have stagnated.

You can look back on our original ranks for this class below, but do remember that those ranks are merely a snapshot in time – we didn’t have a working crystal ball then, nor do we now:

Ranks As Juniors (from August 2025) Ranks As Sophomores (from August 2024)

THIS CLASS

Plenty of depth in the sprint freestyle events, though no obvious standout who is a shoo-in to be an NCAA scorer right from the jump. Eleven boys are sub-19.8, six are sub-43 in the 100, and eight are under 1:35 in the 200. On paper, a decent distance class with five swimmers within 1% of the NCAA cutline or better in the mile, with one clear standout in Gabriel Manteufel. Relatively weak backstroke class, with no one under 46 seconds in the 100 and only one sub-1:41 in the 200. Most of the class’s breaststrokers made improvements during their senior seasons, with eight boys under 53 seconds in the 100 after 52.98 was the fastest time in the class at the time of last year’s rankings. More high-end butterfly sprinters compared to the 200. Three boys sub-46 in the 100 and only one sub-1:43 in the 200. Very strong medley class, led by Baylor Stanton, who projects to be an NCAA scorer as a freshman.

TOP TIMES IN THE CLASS OF 2026

Event Swimmer Time 50 Free Jordan Ragland 19.18 100 Free Jordan Ragland 42.24 200 Free Liam Carrington 1:32.88 500 Free Gabriel Manteufel 4:13.55 1000 Free** Gabriel Manteufel 8:46.56 1650 Free Gabriel Manteufel 14:40.21 100 Back Baylor Stanton 46.12 200 Back Baylor Stanton 1:39.79 100 Breast Gunnar Hansen 52.46 200 Breast Drew Eubanks 1:53.10 100 Fly Rowan Cox 45.47 200 Fly Micah Davis 1:41.90 200 IM Baylor Stanton 1:41.62 400 IM Baylor Stanton 3:40.48

**The 1000 free isn’t an event at the Division I NCAA Championships, but is swum instead of the 1650 in many Division I dual meets and is part of the NCAA program in Division II.

THE METHODOLOGY

Our goal in these rankings is to reflect what college coaches look for in recruits, based on many years of conversations and coverage.

We focus only on American-based athletes, simply because there is so much uncertainty with international recruits – if they’ll come to the United States, when they’ll come to the States and with what graduating class they should be ranked. Projecting international recruits often becomes more of a discussion of when they’ll first join a college program and not which program they’ll join.

A few other factors that weigh heavily in our rankings:

Relay Value – Relay points count double in college swimming, and any program needs a strong stable of quality sprinters to fill out all 5 relays with stars. Obviously, a special distance swimmer can easily rank ahead of a very good 100 freestyler, but college swimming generally values a sprint freestyler over a distance swimmer, all other factors being equal. Improvements – Actual times carry the most weight by a long shot. But we also keep an eye on a swimmer’s trajectory, especially in deciding between two swimmers with relatively even times. Short Course over Long Course – while every club and every swimmer will have a different balance of focus between short course and long course swimming, the NCAA competes in short course yards, and that’s going to be the main factor considered in these rankings. Long course times are another data point for consideration, but we mainly view them through the lens of what a big long course swim could mean for an athlete’s future in short course. NCAA scoring ability – NCAAs are the big show for college teams, so we’ve weighted NCAA scoring potential very highly. Swimmers who already have NCAA scoring times wind up mostly filling out the top of our rankings. Since college athletic directors – and by extension coaches – also place high value on conference championships, scoring ability at conference meets is also a factor in our rankings. Relative depth in the NCAA and recruiting class – a wealth of elite depth nationwide in one stroke discipline makes a big difference in what times are considered more valuable in that event. Events rise at different rates in the NCAA, but when one event gets extremely deep and fast at the college level, it makes high school prospects in those events a little less valuable, relatively, with lots of other veteran options. In the same way, a recruiting class stacked with swimmers in butterfly, for example, would make each butterflyer a little less sought-after in the market, with lots of other recruiting options able to provide similar production.

Of course, there’s no way to predict the future, and the most concrete data we have to go on are cold, hard times. These rankings in no way mean that all of these 20 swimmers will be NCAA standouts, and they certainly don’t mean that no swimmer left off this list will make big contributions at the NCAA level.

Disclaimer: There are a lot of high school seniors in the country, and no really good, complete, 100% accurate listing of them all. If you don’t see your favorite swimmer on the list, feel free to politely point them out in the comments. There’s a chance that we disagree with your assessment of their spot in the top 20, and so long as it’s done civilly, there’s no problem with differences of opinion. There’s also a chance that we’ve simply missed a no-brainer (we’ve taken every precaution to avoid that), and if that happens, we want to make sure we correct it.

BEST OF THE REST

In the Best of the Rest section, we outline a few standouts who didn’t quite crack the top 20 or an Honorable Mention spot.

Verbal commitments are listed where they’ve been reported. Each of these athletes is still an extremely high-level recruit:

Sprint free: Tyler Porter (19.4/43.3, 55.8 BR, 21.0 FLY) **Arizona State** Grant Kellis (20.9/44.4/1:34.4/4:22.7, 1:46.5 BK) **Indiana** Brody Chandler (19.8/43.1/1:36.7, 48.8 FLY) **Tennessee** Brody Engelstad (19.6/43.4/1:38.6, 57.4 BR, 49.1 FLY, 1:49.3 IM) **Indiana** London Rising (19.7/43.7/1:36.2, 46.8/1:46.5 FLY, 1:47.9 IM) **Arizona State** Andrew Maksymowski (20.6/43.9/1:34.7/4:18.0, 49.0/1:47.1 BK, 49.8/1:47.5 FLY, 1:49.3/3:54.8 IM) **USC** Josh Heydt (20.2/43.2, 47.8 BK, 48.5 FLY) **SMU** Distance free: James Darcy (4:24.2/8:53/14:58) **Notre Dame** Oliver Shao (4:22.9/8:58/15:05, 3:48 IM) **Michigan** Santi Alzate (1:37.1/4:20.6/9:04/15:19, 1:48.9 FLY, 1:49.4/3:51.0 IM) **Florida** Ashton Joswiak (4:27.5/9:00/15:07, 3:57.6 IM) **Wisconsin** Dylan Fisk (1:36.7/4:21.8/9:03/15:15, 1:47.3 FLY, 1:48.5/3:53.4 IM) **UNC Wilmington** Gideon Swan (1:38.7/4:21.5/9:00/15:22, 1:49.0 FLY, 3:51.8 IM) **Texas A&M** Backstroke: Matt Krause (47.0/1:41.1, 20.8/44.7/1:37.6 FR, 47.9 FLY, 1:49.0 IM) **Indiana** Joshua Smith (47.5/1:43.1, 44.7/1:38.7 FR, 54.9 BR, 48.9 FLY, 1:46.1 IM) **Wisconsin** Joey Sudermann (47.8/1:43.6, 47.3/1:45.4, 1:46.0) **Wyoming** Michael Geh (47.4/1:43.4, 20.7/44.4/1:35.6/4:25.0 FR, 47.9 FLY, 1:48.0 IM) **Princeton** Elliot Rijnovean (46.7/1:45.2, 20.0/44.1 FR, 47.8 FLY) **Indiana** Breaststroke: Andrew Seifert (52.6/1:57.6, 19.8/43.2 FR, 47.4 FLY, 1:48.1 IM) **Dordt** Gunnar Hansen (52.4/1:58.2, 49.5 FLY) **Alabama** Lucas Ackermann (53.2/1:55.5, 20.3/45.3 FR, 1:48.7 IM) **Texas A&M** Louis Joos (53.5/1:55.7, 1:49.1 IM) **Yale** Sam Wolf (53.0, 19.8/44.6/1:37.3 FR, 1:47.5 IM) **Indiana** Isaac Carsel (52.8/1:57.2, 20.8/44.7 FR, 1:47.7 IM) **UNC** Jude Banks (52.9/2:01.3, 1:51.3 IM, 23.6 BR split) **Georgia** Butterfly: Sam Marsteiner (48.9/1:44.6, 4:22.6/9:05/15:16 FR) **NC State** Bogdan Zverev (46.9/1:44.7, 1:36.9/4:26.2 FR, 1:45.2/3:52.2 IM) **Alabama** Ryan Quinn (46.7/1:44.9, 20.7/45.6 FR, 47.4 BK, 1:48.9 IM) **Notre Dame** Dawson Walters (46.8/1:44.9, 20.1/43.7/1:36.6/4:27.6 FR, 47.0 BK) **Minnesota** Isaiah Tucker (46.6/1:45.3, 20.4/45.0 FR, 47.5 BK, 1:49.8 IM) **Princeton** Roman Torres (46.8/1:44.7, 20.7/45.4/1:39.0 FR, 48.9/1:48.1 BK, 56.9 BR, 1:47.9 IM) **West Virginia** IM: Gerhardt Hoover (1:46.1/3:47.1, 20.8/45.3 FR, 48.5/1:43.8 BK, 54.2/1:56.2 BR) **Virginia** Jeremy Ting (1:48.1/3:47.7, 4:23.8/15:22 FR, 2:00.1 BR, 1:48.2 FLY) **Cornell** Jason Sugihara (1:45.9/3:48.9, 19.9/43.9/1:36.3 FR, 54.9/1:58.6 BR) **Army** Owen Lin (1:45.7/3:50.8, 20.11/44.2/1:37.6 FR, 47.8/1:45.3 FLY) **Harvard** Chase Knopf (1:47.4/3:47.8, 20.2/45.0/1:37.7/4:24.9 FR, 49.0/1:44.2 BK, 48.2 FLY) **Louisville**

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Paring the list down to 20 always feels like pulling teeth. This isn’t an exhaustive list of others we considered, but the top few left off the list who made the decisions on 18-20 very difficult.

Note that in references to the NCAA cutline, we’re using what the cutline would have been under the old qualifying format (not the 2026 process that included auto conference qualifiers).

Evan Gluck (Previous Rank: BOTR) – City of Richardson Swim Team – iUniversity Prep – Rockwall, TX **Committed to UNC**

Best Times:

1650 free: 14:55.27 1000 free: 8:56.62 500 free: 4:23.56 200 free: 1:41.88 400 IM: 3:52.28 200 fly: 1:49.69

Gluck is coming off a very strong season that saw him engineer big drops in his primary distance events, becoming the third-fastest swimmer in the class in the mile. At Winter Juniors – West in December, the City of Richardson Swim Team product set best times in all six events he raced, highlighted by his runner-up finish in the 1000 free (8:56.62) and his 4th-place finish in the 1650 free (14:55.27). His swim in the mile marked a 13-second improvement from his previous best, while in the 100, he took off more than eight seconds. In the 500 free, after entering the season with a best time of 4:28.08, Gluck clocked 4:23.56 at Winter Juniors – West, and followed up by going 4:24.65 at the NCSA Spring Championships in March. His time in the 1650 free is within 1% of the 2026 NCAA cutline, while he’s within 4% in the 500 free. He also brought his 400 IM down more than six seconds over the course of the season to 3:52.28, giving him three solid NCAA Championship events as he heads to UNC. Last season, he would’ve been the fastest swimmer for the Tar Heels in the 1000 and 1650, while in the 500, he would’ve trailed Josh Parent and Sam Huggins, who will both return in 2026-27.

Aiden Moy (Previous Rank: BOTR) – Badger Swim Club – Laurel Springs School – Ardsley, NY **Committed to Michigan**

Best Times:

200 IM: 1:45.25 400 IM: 3:48.80 200 fly: 1:44.17 100 fly: 47.49 200 free: 1:36.33 100 free: 45.51 100 breast: 55.43 200 breast: 1:59.67 100 back: 49.08

Moy made big strides during his senior year of high school, developing into a very strong IM/butterflier with a decent 200 free in his back pocket. The Ardsley, N.Y., native, who’s headed to Michigan in the fall, performed well at his first taper meet of the 2025-26 campaign at Winter Juniors – East, setting new bests in the 200 fly (1:45.66), 200 IM (1:45.25) and 400 IM (3:50.83). A few months later, at the Senior Mets Winter Championships, he lowered his PBs in the 200 fly (1:44.17) and 400 IM (3:48.80) while adding new bests in the 200 free (1:36.33) and 100 fly (47.49). Moy’s two best events, the 200 fly and 200 IM, currently coincide on the NCAA schedule, creating a potential conflict if it doesn’t change. Along with those two, the 400 IM is likely a big part of his program in college, while his 100 breast and 100 fly have come along and could be valuable in dual meets, and his 200 free development indicates he could crack the 800 free relay in the future if he continues to slice off time. In late April, he dropped three seconds off his LCM 200 free time, clocking 1:52.17.

Alex Grocholski (Previous Rank: BOTR) – Nation’s Capital Swim Club – Colgan High School – Manassas, VA **Committed to Virginia Tech**

Best Times:

500 free: 4:19.98 400 IM: 3:46.30 200 IM: 1:46.57 200 free: 1:37.03 100 free: 45.12 50 free: 20.92 1000 free: 9:05.69 1650 free: 15:38.58 200 back: 1:47.47 100 back: 50.51 100 breast: 55.85 100 fly: 49.72

Grocholski is a rangy freestyler who took big steps in the medley events last season, establishing himself as one of the best mid-distance free/IM swimmers in the class. He dropped nearly three seconds in the 500 free over the course of the season, becoming just the seventh in the class to break 4:20 with his 4:19.98 clocking at the Katie Ledecky Invitational in December, where he also set new PBs in the 200 free (1:37.03) and 200 IM (1:47.01), claiming victory in all three races. He followed up with an impressive showing at the NCSA Spring Championships in March, placing 2nd in the 500 free (4:20.91) while taking 3rd in both the 200 IM (1:46.57) and 400 IM (3:46.30) with a pair of personal best times. The soon-to-be Virginia Tech Hokie projects to have a 500 free/200 IM/400 IM lineup in college, and will likely be an asset in the 800 free relay at some point in his career. Last season, Virginia Tech only had one swimmer go faster than Grocholski’s best time in the 400 IM and two in the 500 free, making him a valuable addition right from the get-go.

Matt Vatev (Previous Rank: HM) — Hornet Swim Club — Hinsdale Central High School — Clarendon Hills, IL **Committed to Penn**

100 breast: 52.83 200 breast: 1:55.23 200 IM: 1:47.03 400 IM: 3:52.31 50 free: 20.17 100 free: 44.73 200 free: 1:38.78

Vatev rewrote his personal record book during his senior year of high school, dropping into 52-point territory in the 100 breast while improving in the 200 breast and 200 IM and adding sprint free to his repertoire. Coming off a summer that included him winning bronze in the 200 breast at U.S. Junior Nationals last August, Vatev’s short course campaign kicked into high gear this past February, as he hit a breakthrough 52.83 in the 100 breast prelims at the IHSA State Championships before winning the final in 53.47. He also placed 3rd in the 200 IM for the second straight year in a new best time of 1:47.80, and added another PB leading off the 200 free relay in 20.17. The following month at the NCSA Spring Championships, he won titles in the 100 breast (53.29) and 200 breast (1:55.23), setting a new PB in the latter, and also reset his best times in the 100 free (44.73), 200 free (1:38.78), 200 IM (1:47.03) and 400 IM (3:52.31). Headed to Penn, which has established itself as a breaststroke school given the success of Ivy League champions Matt Fallon and Watson Nguyen, Vatev fits in as a blue-chip recruit who likely swims both breaststrokes and the 200 IM in college while also playing a big role in the medley relays.

Jake Lloyd (Previous Rank: BOTR) – Central Ohio Aquatics – St. Charles Preparatory School – Dublin, OH **Committed to Arizona State**

Best Times:

50 free: 19.39 100 free: 43.41 100 breast: 53.06 100 fly: 47.29 50 fly: 21.41 50 back: 22.25 50 breast: 24.22

Lloyd fits the bill perfectly for Arizona State as a rapidly improving sprint freestyler who has also shown some serious speed in the other three strokes. Entering the 2025-26 season with a best time of 19.82 in the 50 free, Lloyd produced eight sub-20 swims throughout the year, highlighted by a blazing 19.39 he clocked en route to winning the OHSAA D1 state title in February. At that same meet, he also claimed the state title in the 100 breast in a lifetime best of 53.06, a massive improvement after entering the season with a PB of 55.87. In the 100 free, Lloyd showed steady progression last season, entering the campaign with a PB of 44.83, then clocking 44.65 in November, 44.46 in December, and ultimately 43.41 at the Ohio SC Senior Championships in March. There are plenty of 19/43 sprinters in this class—though it’s worth noting Lloyd’s 19.39 ranks him sixth—but what sets Lloyd apart is his ability in the other strokes. We’ve included each of his stroke 50-yard times above, which are not NCAA Championship events but are worth noting for his skillset. He’s been 22.2 in the 50 back, 24.2 in the 50 breast and 21.4 in the 50 fly, and given the way we’ve seen sprinters thrive at ASU under Herbie Behm over the last few years, it’s easy to see him continuing to improve across the board. A projected NCAA Championship lineup for Lloyd likely features the 50 free, 100 free and 100 breast, but there’s no question relays will be a big part of his program.

Miles Blackson-Dunbar (Previous Rank: 15) — Alpha Athletics — Crossroads School — Los Angeles, CA **Committed to Tennessee**

Best Times:

50 free: 19.37 100 free: 43.35 100 back: 46.78 100 fly: 49.42 200 free: 1:39.67

Blackson-Dunbar improved his sprint free times last year and brought a third event up to a similar level with noted improvement in the 100 back. Discussed in last year’s ranking as a less versatile sprint freestyler compared to his peers, the LA native knocked more than a second off his 100 back, snagging a 3rd-place finish at Winter Juniors – West in 46.78 (after going 46.79 in the prelims). He also hit new bests in the 50 free (19.37) and 100 free (43.35) at that meet, split 42.88 on the 400 free relay, and ripped a lifetime best of 21.30 in the 50 back leading off the Alpha Aquatics 200 medley relay. Not to be overlooked, he also broke 22 seconds in the 50 fly (21.87) at a meet in February, showing sprint chops across three strokes. Tennessee is a perfect fit for Blackson-Dunbar, as we’ve seen several sprint free/fly swimmers thrive there in recent years, headlined by Jordan Crooks and Gui Caribe, and though they’ve graduated, the Vols now have Julian Koch joining this year, who will make for a good training partner for the newcomer.

Liam Smith (Previous Rank: #16) — Greater Kalamazoo Crocs — Otsego High School — Kalamazoo, MI **Committed to Florida**

Best Times:

200 fly: 1:44.12 100 fly: 47.80 200 IM: 1:46.23 400 IM: 3:48.57 200 back: 1:44.74 100 back: 48.59 500 free: 4:27.21 200 free: 1:37.93 100 free: 45.62

Smith is a well-rounded swimmer who leans towards the 200 fly and the IM events as his go-to events, but has also shown he can perform at a high level in free, back, and the 100 fly. Last season, Smith chipped two one-hundredths off his best time in the 200 fly, clocking 1:44.12 at Winter Juniors – East in December to land a runner-up finish. That swim ranks him 5th in the class, but more importantly, he’s now been 1:44 six separate times in the event, showing some good consistency as he heads to Florida. In mid-March, he won the MHSAA D3 state titles in the 100 fly (47.80) and 200 IM (1:47.38), setting best times in both, and then dropped down to 1:46.23 in the 200 IM a few weeks later at the Michigan ULTRA Championships. The Kalamazoo native also set a best time of 3:48.57 in the 400 IM at the Michigan ULTRA meet, giving him three events within 4% of the 2026 NCAA cutline (the 200 fly is within 3% and the 200 IM is also within 4%), and he also set bests in the 500 free (4:27.21), 50 back (22.76), 100 back (48.59) and 200 back (1:44.74). Given his versatility and propensity for swimming big event lineups at meets with several events 200 and up, Smith likely keeps the 400 IM over the 100 fly in college. The Gators had three men finish in the top 17 at NCAAs last season in the 400 IM, so there’s a strong medley training group that Smith should fit right in with.

TOP 20 SWIMMERS FROM THE CLASS OF 2026

20. Nathan Foucu (Previous Rank: 19) — Quicksilver Swimming — The King’s Academy — San Jose, CA **Committed to Stanford**

Best Times:

200 free: 1:34.31 100 free: 42.52 50 free: 19.87 200 IM: 1:47.49 100 fly: 47.75 200 fly: 1:49.58

Foucu made significant strides last season, developing from being a 20.1/43.5/1:35.4 sprint freestyler into a 19.8/42.5/1:34.3 weapon. He broke the 20-point and 44-point thresholds in the 50 and 100 free at Winter Juniors – West in December, setting lifetime bests of 19.87 and 42.73 on relay lead-off legs. He also set a PB of 1:35.06 in the 200 free leading off the Quicksilver Swimming 800 free relay, and then in late February, he followed up at the Speedo Sectionals in Roseville by firing off a massive 1:34.31 in the 200 free final, making him the second-fastest swimmer in the class. Most recently, at the CIF State Championships in May, he won the state title in 1:34.38, narrowly missing his best time, and added a new PB en route to a runner-up finish in the 100 free in 42.52. The Stanford commit figures to be a typical 50/100/200 freestyler in college, but we also can’t ignore his fly accolades, having been 21.69 from a flying start in the 200 medley relay and 47.75 in the 100 fly, a monstrous time drop he produced at the Roseville Sectionals. His 200 IM is also respectable at 1:47.49, but it’s hard to see him picking that over one of the freestyle events in his postseason lineup.

19. Brandon Ha (Previous Rank: 14) — DART Swimming — Angelo Rodriguez High School — Fairfield, CA **Committed to Northwestern**

Best Times:

200 fly: 1:43.53 100 fly: 46.06 50 free: 19.71 100 free: 44.21 200 free: 1:38.22 200 IM: 1:48.37 100 back: 48.40 100 breast: 56.30

Ha is one of the top two-distance butterfly swimmers in the class, having lowered his lifetime best in the 200 by two and a half seconds last season in 1:43.53, ranking him 3rd among class of 2026 recruits. He produced that time in the prelims at Winter Juniors – West in December, where he ultimately went on to place 4th in a time of 1:44.08. Ha backed that up with another sub-1:44 swim at the Roseville Sectionals in February, clocking 1:43.75 to win the title. In the 100 fly, the Northwestern commit has consistently been churning out 46-point swims over the last two years, setting a new PB of 46.06 in early May before winning the CIF state title the following week in 46.10. Both of Ha’s butterfly best times are knocking on the door of being within 2% of the 2026 NCAA cutline, and comparing him to last year’s class, he’s right up there, as only Thomas Heilman was faster in the 100 fly in the class of 2025 re-rank, while only Heilman and Maximus Williamson were quicker in the 200 fly. Ha also brought his 50 free best time down by nearly eight-tenths in 19.71, giving him a chance to factor into Northwestern’s 200 free relay in the future.

18. Mattaus Rammel (Previous Rank: BOTR) – New Wave Swim Team – Ravenscroft School – Raleigh, NC **Committed to Ohio State**

Best Times: 

100 fly: 45.82 200 fly: 1:43.50 50 free: 19.99 100 free: 43.08 200 free: 1:40.86 100 breast: 56.18 100 back: 49.27 200 IM: 1:49.78

Rammel is a very similar recruit to Ha, though he owns slightly faster best times in both fly events and is over a second quicker in the 100 free. The Raleigh native built into his senior year, starting out with a solid showing at Winter Juniors – East before really taking off in the new year. At the NCISAA D1 State Championships in February, Rammel won the 100 fly title in a new lifetime best of 45.82, smashing his previous PB of 47.25, ranking him 2nd in this class and putting him within eight-tenths of the 2026 NCAA cutline. He also won the 50 free state title with a new best of 19.99, and then just over a week later at the North Carolina Senior Champs, he knocked nearly four seconds off his lifetime best in the 200 fly in 1:43.50, making him the second-fastest swimmer in the class. His momentum carried into the NCSA Spring Championships in March, where he wrapped his short course season with a bang with victories in the 100 free (43.08), 50 fly (20.75) and 100 fly (46.17), setting new best times in the two former. Rammel will immediately take over as the top 200 flier on Ohio State’s roster next season, while he’ll have a good training partner for the 100 fly in Matthew Klinge, who was the Big Ten runner-up last season in a time of 44.48. The Buckeyes are also losing half of their 400 free relay from last season, opening the door for Rammel to step in and be a relay contributor right away.

17. Grant Lilly (Previous Rank: BOTR) – Streamline Aquatics – Ronald Reagan High School – San Antonio, TX **Committed to Notre Dame**

Best Times:

1650 free: 15:01.55 1000 free: 9:04.07 500 free: 4:17.50 200 free: 1:36.15 100 free: 45.88 50 free: 21.26 200 fly: 1:46.38 100 fly: 48.77 400 IM: 3:51.07 200 IM: 1:49.58 100 breast: 55.67

Lilly raced the 1650 free for the first time in over a year this past December at Winter Juniors – West, dropping 28 seconds in 15:01.55 to rank 5th in this class and pulling him within 1% of the 2026 NCAA cutline. The San Antonio native had a phenomenal showing across the board at the meet, including a runner-up finish and massive best time in the 500 free (4:17.50), and additional PBs in the 200 free (1:36.24), 200 fly (1:46.97), 200 IM (1:49.58) and 400 IM (3:51.07). He swept the UIL 6A state titles in the 200 free (1:36.15) and 500 free (4:22.92) in February, and then at the Justin Sectionals in March, he continued his assault on his personal record book, notably showing some ability in the 100 breast (55.67) and 100 fly (48.77). In addition to ranking 5th in the class in the 1650 free, Lilly also sits 4th in the 500 free, and the progress he’s shown in other strokes of late indicates there’s likely more to give in the 400 IM. Patrick Branon, a rising sophomore at Notre Dame, will make for a great training partner for Lilly, coming off a 6th-place finish in the 500 free at his debut ACC Championships.

16. Matthew Wolfle (Previous Rank: 17) — Nova of Virginia Aquatics — James River High School — Richmond, VA **Committed to Virginia Tech**

Best Times:

400 IM: 3:44.64 200 IM: 1:45.85 100 breast: 53.19 200 breast: 1:55.86 200 free: 1:38.95 100 free: 46.79 50 free: 21.28

Wolfle had massive drops in time during his junior year of high school, leading him to be ranked 17th last season, primarily as a breaststroke recruit. As a senior, he stepped up big time in the medley events, lowering his 400 IM PB from 3:47.27 to 3:44.64, earning a runner-up finish at the NCSA Spring Championships to rank 5th in this class. He also dropped over a second last season in the 200 IM, making the ‘A’ final at Winter Juniors – East in 1:45.85, and chipped a tenth off his PB in the 200 breast, getting down to 1:55.86 to take 3rd at NCSAs. In the 100 breast, though he didn’t reset his best time of 53.19 from the 2025 NCSAs, Wolfle was close with a pair of 53-mid swims at Winter Juniors, and he also snagged the VHSL Class 5 state title in February in 54.36. Virginia Tech’s Eli Martin and Oscar Bilbao, who are returning next season, were both 51/1:51 in the breaststroke events in 2025-26, making for a great breaststroke group for Wolfle to join. In the medley events, Wolfle joins rising sophomore Andy Roose (3:44.56) as the top two swimmers for the team in the 400 IM, while in the 200 IM, Wolfle slots right in, as VA Tech had four swimmers between 1:43.8 and 1:44.8 last season. After steady improvements throughout his high school career, the question is whether Wolfle can carry that momentum into his freshman year at college and make an immediate impact.

15. Drew Eubanks (Previous Rank: 11) — Dolphins Portland Swimming — Adrienne C. Nelson High School — Happy Valley, OR **Committed to Tennessee**

Best Times:

200 breast: 1:53.10 (best in class) 100 breast: 52.59 200 IM: 1:49.89 100 free: 45.67 50 free: 21.10

Eubanks was the fastest breaststroker in both distances last year, and although he lost his distinction as being ranked #1 in the 100 breast this past season, he still improved in both races. Coming off a summer that saw him gain some international experience at World Juniors, Eubanks’ first taper meet of the 2025-26 short course season was a big success, winning the Winter Juniors – West title with a new lifetime best in the 200 breast (1:54.77) while placing 2nd in the 100 breast (52.93) after hitting a new PB of 52.69 in the prelims. After winning the OSAA 6A state title in the 100 breast (53.05) in February, Eubanks wrapped the short course season with a bang at the Arena Senior Championships in March, setting best times across the board, highlighted by his showings in the 50 breast (24.19), 100 breast (52.59) and 200 breast (1:53.10). The swim in the 200 breast makes him the fastest in the class, with Baylor Stanton the only swimmer within a second and a half of him, and in the 100 breast, Eubanks is a close 2nd to Gunnar Hansen. Eubanks is less than seven-tenths shy of the NCAA cutline in the 200 breast, and he’s within a second in the 100. Tennessee breaststroke got a big shot in the arm last season with the addition of Gabe Nunziata, and bringing in Eubanks 12 months later should form a lethal 1-2 punch for the Vols for the next three years.

14. Whitaker Steward (Previous Rank: 10) — Tsunami Swim Team of KC — Kearney High School — Liberty, MO **Committed to Tennessee**

Best Times:

1650 free: 14:51.63 1000 free: 8:52.64 500 free: 4:20.09 200 free: 1:38.22 100 free: 46.41 400 IM: 3:50.20 200 IM: 1:49.57

After producing massive time drops in his junior year, Steward didn’t quite match his PBs in the distance freestyle events as a senior, though he was close and remains the second-fastest miler in the class. Steward knocked 21 seconds off his 1650 free best time at the 2024 Winter Junior Championships – West when he clocked 14:51.94 en route to a runner-up finish, and then he backed that up by going 14:51.63 at the Speedo Sectionals in March a few months later. This season, he clocked 14:54.46 at Winter Juniors, a time that only one swimmer in this class (Gabriel Manteufel) has been faster than, and then Steward delivered the fourth sub-15 swim of his career at the Four Corners Sectionals in 14:57.17. His personal best time is well under the 2026 NCAA cutline (14:53.38) and within striking distance of what it took to score last season (14:47.47), and his season-best time isn’t far off the cutline. Tennessee only had one swimmer race the 1650 free at all last season, so Steward will be a welcome addition to the Vols’ distance group. In the 500 free, Steward was just five one-hundredths off his best time this past season, having gone 4:20.09 at the 2025 Columbia Sectionals and then clocking 4:20.14 at Winter Juniors – West this past December. The 400 IM would be projected to be Steward’s #3 event in his postseason lineup for the time being, having eight career swims 3:53 or faster (PB of 3:50.20), putting it ahead of his 200 free (1:38.22).

13. Maxwell Stanislaus (Previous Rank: 8) – Lakeside Aquatic Club (TX) — Keller High School — Keller, TX **Committed to Stanford**

Best Times:

500 free: 4:16.90 200 free: 1:34.57 100 free: 43.52 50 free: 20.49 200 fly: 1:44.92 100 fly: 46.88

Stanislaus made meaningful drops in his best events last season, reaffirming his place as arguably the most dangerous 200/500 freestyler in the class. Entering the season with a best time of 4:18.89 in the 500 free, the Lakeside Aquatic Club product unleashed a time of 4:16.90 at Winter Juniors – West in December, winning the title while moving to 2nd in the class and within 1% of the 2026 NCAA cutline. In the 200 free, he dropped four-tenths last season in 1:34.57, and added best times in the 100 free (43.52), 100 fly (46.88) and 200 fly (1:44.92) in 2025-26. Just one of three swimmers in the class who is sub-1:35 in the 200 free and sub-4:20 in the 500, Stanislaus has shown elite sprinting ability in the 50 fly, with two career sub-21 splits on his resume, including a 20.72 from the 2026 Speedo Sectionals in Justin. Stanislaus should fit right in at Stanford with the likes of Henry McFadden and Ethan Ekk owning similar skillsets in the 200/500 free, and his 43.5 100 free puts him in the running for a future spot on the 400 free relay.

12. Yury Kuzmenko (Previous Rank: 13) — Valley Splash — Valley Christian High School — San Jose, CA **Committed to Princeton**

Best Times:

50 free: 19.30 100 free: 42.77 200 free: 1:38.41 100 fly: 47.18 100 breast: 54.88 100 back: 48.77

Kuzmenko’s value on paper is clear, but what’s hidden from his best times is the fact that he’s had at least five 50 free relay splits under 19 seconds, all done during last month’s CIF postseason meets, making him a massive get for the Princeton Tigers. Kuzmenko’s fastest split of 18.73 is notably faster than all of Princeton’s legs in the 200 free relay at the 2026 NCAA Championships. At the CIF Central Coast Section Championships in early May, Kuzmenko established new lifetime bests of 19.30 in the 50 free and 42.77 in the 100 free, ranking him top five in the class and pulling him within 2% of the 2026 NCAA cutline. Having entered the season with respective bests of 19.55 and 43.34, those time drops are significant in the sprint events. The Valley Splash product has also shown sprinting ability across the other three strokes, particularly in the 100 breast (54.88) and the 50 (21.31) and 100 fly (47.18). Given the current NCAA schedule, the 100 fly likely slots in as his third event in the NCAA postseason. Kuzmenko is in position to be an ‘A’ finalist at the Ivy League Championships as a freshman in the 50 free, while he’s fast enough for the consols of the 100 free and 100 fly, and will be pushing for NCAA qualification if he continues to improve. And of course, he’ll be a key player on the Tiger relays.

11. Micah Davis (Previous Rank: #9) — Aquajets Swim Team — Tech High School — Clearwater, MN **Committed to Virginia**

Best Times:

200 fly: 1:41.90 (best in class) 100 fly: 46.17 200 IM: 1:46.22 200 free: 1:36.74 100 free: 43.62 50 free: 20.03 100 back: 49.36

Davis continued to raise the bar in the 200 fly last season, bringing his class-leading time of 1:43.53 from his junior year down to a blazing 1:41.90 at Winter Juniors – West en route to winning the title. Not only does that swim make him the fastest swimmer in the class by more than a second and a half, but it puts him within two-thirds of a second of what it took to earn NCAA qualification last season. Davis will have great company at Virginia next season in Thomas Heilman, the only swimmer from the boys’ class of 2025 who was faster than Davis’ 200 fly best time heading into college last year, as he set a new personal best in the event en route to a runner-up finish in his debut NCAA Championships. Davis also won the 2025 Winter Juniors – West title in the 100 fly, lowering his best time from 46.84 to 46.17 to rank 5th in the class, and, like the 200 fly, only Heilman was faster among class of 2025 recruits prior to college. Davis also lowered his 200 IM best time to 1:46.22 last season, done in winning the MSHSL Class AA state title in February, and he added additional bests in the 50 free (20.03), 100 free (43.62) and 50 fly (21.21) at NCSAs in March. After the success we saw from Heilman and Maximus Williamson in their freshman years at Virginia, Davis should be able to become an immediate contributor for the Cavaliers in his first year in Charlottesville. He’ll clearly be targeting the 100 and 200 fly, but we could also see him playing a role in the free relays, specifically the 400 free, as soon as next season.

10. Albert Smelzer (Previous Rank: #7) — Greensboro Swimming Association — Page High School — Greensboro, NC **Committed to Cal**

Best Times:

50 free: 19.26 100 free: 43.04 100 fly: 46.95 100 back: 46.79 200 back: 1:47.53 200 free: 1:36.28 50 back: 21.80 50 fly: 21.15

Smelzer built into the 2025-26 short course season, clearly targeting the Southeastern Meet of Champions in early March, and he nailed it. The Greensboro Swimming Association product fired off new lifetime bests in the 50 free (19.26), 50 back (21.80), 100 back (46.79), 50 fly (21.15) and 100 fly (46.95), and added season-bests in the 100 free (43.41) and 200 free (1:36.38) while dropping a 42.70 100 free relay split. Prior to that, Smelzer had a solid showing at Winter Juniors – East, setting best times in the 100 back (48.10) and 100 fly (47.16) and posting season-bests in the 50 free (19.62) and 100 free (43.85), and his ability to build throughout the season and peak in March is a good indicator of success heading into his NCAA career. Headed to Cal, Smelzer is the second-fastest 50 freestyler in the class and the big improvements he made in backstroke last season, dropping from 48.34 to 46.79 in the 100 back, made him one of just six in the class sub-47 in the event. Cal’s pedigree in developing backstrokers is well-documented, so look for Smelzer to continue to develop there while also dialling in on the sprint free and fly events. He’s been 21.1 in the 50 fly from a flat start (and 23.91 in long course), indicating he could be a viable option on three different strokes for future Cal 200 medley relays. The NCAA Championship schedule is up in the air, but based on last year, Smelzer would run into a conflict with the 50 free and 100 back, meaning he might have to drop the 100 back in favor of the 100 fly while also swimming the 100 free.

9. Ian Heysen Ricci (Previous Rank: 18) — Blue Dolfins Oviedo/WinterPark — Winter Park High School — Winter Park, FL **Committed to Virginia**

Best Times:

100 breast: 52.88 200 breast: 1:54.61 400 IM: 3:43.23 200 IM: 1:44.90 500 free: 4:26.62 200 free: 1:38.21 100 free: 45.52 200 fly: 1:48.89 100 fly: 50.05

Heysen Ricci isn’t the prototypical breaststroker who also dabbles in individual medley, as his IM performances over the past season put that discipline on similar footing to his breaststroke level. He set best times in everything he swam at Winter Juniors – East this past December, winning the title in the 200 breast (1:54.61), earning a runner-up finish in the 100 breast (52.88), placing 3rd in the 400 IM (3:43.23) and adding a 6th-place finish in the 200 IM (1:44.90). Based out of the Blue Dolfins in Oviedo, Florida, Heysen Ricci, who represents Peru on the international stage, had noteworthy improvements in the breaststroke events last season, knocking off just over half a second in the 100 and just over six-tenths in the 200, but his bigger improvements came in the IMs. He dropped over five seconds in the 400 IM, with his 3:43.23 clocking ranking him 2nd in the class and putting him within 1% of the 2026 NCAA cutline. However, given the NCAA Championship schedule, it’s more likely Heysen Ricci swims the 200 IM in postseason competition, and his 1:44.90 showing marked a 1.7-second drop from the season prior and makes him one of just five swimmers in the class sub-1:45. Heysen Ricci should slot in perfectly on Virginia’s medley relays for the next three seasons with last year’s breaststroker, Matthew Heilman, graduating.

8. Austin Carpenter (Previous Rank: #4) — Central Ohio Aquatics — St. Charles Preparatory School — Dublin, OH **Committed to Texas**

Best Times:

50 free: 19.77 100 free: 42.99 200 free: 1:36.21 100 breast: 52.97 100 fly: 46.79 200 IM: 1:46.57 50 breast: 24.18 100 back: 49.30 200 breast: 1:59.39

Carpenter was overtaken as the fastest 100 freestyler in the class last season, and though he didn’t improve his lifetime best of 42.99 as a senior, he came incredibly close and showed impressive consistency with seven swims between 43.03 and 43.68, including four separate 43.0s. The Central Ohio Aquatics product did set best times in the 50 free and 100 breast last season, dropping two one-hundredths in the 50 (19.77) and over half a second in the 100 breast (52.97), and in the 200 IM, he knocked off nearly two seconds in 1:46.57. Headed to Texas, Carpenter will certainly be a key relay piece for the Longhorns in college, having shown an ability to step up in the team events. He’s split as fast as 19.25 from a flying start in the 50 free, and has been sub-24 on the breast leg of the 200 medley relay twice, going as fast as 23.64. He’s also a strong fly sprinter, owning a best time of 46.79 in the 100, but clearly put his focus toward free and breast last season. Among the best sprint freestylers in the class, Carpenter likely swims the 50 free, 100 free and 100 breast in his collegiate postseason career while also playing a big role on the Texas relays.

7. Jordan Ragland (Previous Rank: HM) — Life Time Northern California — West Park High School — Roseville, CA **Verbally committed to Cal**

Best Times:

50 free: 19.18 (best in class) 100 free: 42.24 (best in class) 200 free: 1:36.02 200 IM: 1:47.84 100 back: 46.56 100 breast: 54.07 100 fly: 48.15 50 fly: 21.15 50 breast: 24.92

Ragland is coming off an explosive season that saw him emerge as the fastest sprint freestyler in this class, as evidenced by his jump from Honorable Mention recruit into the top 10. At the Winter Junior Championships – West this past December, he set monstrous best times en route to sweeping junior national titles in the 50 free (19.28) and 100 free (42.24), having entered the meet with respective best times of 19.61 and 43.91. He also established best times in the 100 back (46.56), 100 breast (54.07), 200 breast (2:04.19) and 200 IM (1:47.84) at Winter Juniors, showing impressive versatility for a sprint freestyler. The California native, who will be staying close to home in Berkeley next season, continued his standout senior year at the Roseville Sectionals in February, winning the 50 free (19.69) and 100 free (43.31) while adding best times in the 200 free (1:36.02), 50 breast (24.92), 50 fly (21.15) and 100 fly (48.15), and then he closed out his short course campaign with a bang during the CIF postseason. After topping the 50 and 100 free at the Sac Joaquin Section Championships, Ragland powered to a pair of CIF state titles in the 50 free (19.18) and 100 free (42.33), setting a new lifetime best in the 50 to make him the fastest swimmer in the class by eight one-hundredths. He also produced five sub-43 swims over the course of the season in the 100 free, something only five other swimmers in the class have done once. Ragland’s class-leading 50 and 100 free times would’ve ranked in the top four on Cal last season (3rd in the 100, 4th in the 50), meaning there’s a very good chance he slots into the 200 and 400 free relays right away. He projects as a 50 and 100 free ‘A’ finalist in the future, with the 100 back and 100 breast both in play for his third individual event.

6. Liam Carrington (Previous Rank: 12) — Bolles School Sharks — Bolles School — Jacksonville, FL **Verbally committed to NC State**

Best Times:

200 free: 1:32.88 (best in class) 100 free: 42.32 50 free: 19.89 200 IM: 1:44.52 200 back: 1:44.13 100 back: 47.53 400 IM: 3:52.56

At this time last year, Carrington wasn’t featured as a clear-cut freestyle-first recruit; he was a versatile swimmer who had strong best times across the 200 free, 200 back and 200 IM. However, in his senior year at Bolles, Carrington took a giant leap forward in the free events, becoming the fastest swimmer in the class in the 200 free. At Winter Juniors – East this past December, Carrington blitzed the 200 free final, winning by over two seconds in a time of 1:32.88, shattering his previous best of 1:35.49. The time is just shy of the 2026 NCAA cutline (1:32.29), is within a tenth of what it took to make the 2026 ACC ‘A’ final (1:32.80), and makes him the fastest swimmer in the class by a whopping 1.43 seconds. In the 100 free, Carrington broke 43 seconds for the first time at the FHSAA Class 1A Championships in November, clocking 42.66 en route to winning the state title, and then followed up by winning the Winter Juniors – East crown in 42.32 to slot in as the second-fastest swimmer in the class. He also put up a blistering 1:44.52 in the 200 IM at Winter Juniors, which also ranks him #2 in the class and marks a near two-second drop from last season. The Trinidad and Tobago native has only been sub-20 once in the 50 free, but did produce three sub-19.5 relay splits last season, including a pair of 19.32s. Carrington will have a chance to be an NCAA qualifier right away, given how close his 200 free PB is to last year’s cutline, and in the future, he’ll be a scoring threat in the 100 free and 200 IM as well. Carrington also would’ve ranked 3rd on NC State last season in the 200 free, and only eight one-hundredths back of #2 Daniel Diehl, meaning he’ll very likely feature in the 800 free relay as a freshman.

5. Tim Wu (Previous Rank: #5) — Pleasanton Seahawks — Dougherty Valley High School — San Ramon, CA **Committed to Cal**

Best Times:

400 IM: 3:43.39 200 IM: 1:44.55 500 free: 4:19.43 200 free: 1:35.52 100 free: 43.86 50 free: 20.48 200 back: 1:41.91 200 fly: 1:44.71 1650 free: 15:22.35 1000 free: 9:01.13 100 back: 47.15 100 fly: 47.26

Wu is incredibly versatile with high-end abilities across every freestyle distance, the 100 and 200 of back and fly, and both medley events. He set best times in the majority of his best events last season, highlighted by a 3:43.39 clocking in the 400 IM at the PLS Superleague SC Championships at the end of January, which ranks him 3rd in the class and marks a seven-second improvement from where he was at the start of the season. One month earlier, at the Speedo Sectionals in Walnut, California, in late December, Wu was on fire, setting lifetime bests across the 200 free (1:35.52), 500 free (4:19.43) and 200 back (1:41.91) while nearing his PBs in the 100 fly (47.30) and 200 IM (1:44.85). He hit a new best of 1:44.71 in the 200 fly at the Far Western Championships in April, and then closed out the short course season by winning CIF state titles in the 100 back (47.17) and 200 IM (1:44.55) last month. Owning a very similar skillset to his future teammate Baylor Stanton, Wu’s most likely event lineup at an NCAA or ACC Championship meet would be the 200 IM, 400 IM and 500 free as of right now, but he’s so well-rounded that the 200 back or 200 fly, or even 200 free, could emerge as an option. Along with his seven-second drop in the 400 IM, he also took off three seconds last season in the 500 free, while in the 200 IM, he’s consistently been producing 1:44s, which puts him right at the top of the class behind Stanton. Wu has seven events that are within 4% of the 2026 NCAA cutline (led by the 400 IM, which is within 1%), which is the third-highest in the class behind Stanton and Rowan Cox.

4. Mike Rice (Previous Rank: #6) — Mecklenburg Swim Association  — Marvin Ridge High School — Waxhaw, NC **Committed to Auburn**

Best Times:

50 free: 19.28 100 free: 42.48 200 free: 1:34.96 100 fly: 45.89 200 IM: 1:44.73 100 breast: 54.81 100 back: 48.17

Rice is right at the pointy end of the class in the 50 and 100 free, but on top of that, he’s one of three swimmers under 46 seconds in the 100 fly, one of five sub-1:45 in the 200 IM, and one of eight sub-1:35 in the 200 free to help push him up to #4 overall. His first taper meet of the 2025-26 season came at Winter Juniors – East in December, where the Mecklenburg Swim Association product roared to the title in the 50 free (19.30) and 100 fly (45.89) while placing 2nd in the 100 free (42.48) and 3rd in the 200 free (1:34.96), setting new best times across the board. He went on to claim the NCHSAA 7A state titles in the 200 free and 100 fly in February, and then in March, lit it up at the Speedo Sectionals in Cary, winning the 50 free (19.28), 100 free (42.60), 200 free (1:35.03), 100 fly (45.91) and 200 IM (1:44.73), setting new bests in the 50 free and 200 IM. Rice is a massive addition for a rebuilding Auburn team that finished 17th at NCAAs last season with 55 points. He ranks 3rd in the class in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly, and those are the three events he projects to swim at an SEC or NCAA Championship meet. The margins in the sprint events are thin, so Rice still sits 2% off the NCAA cutline in those three events (and the 200 IM), but if he continues to improve, he’ll likely earn an NCAA spot as a freshman. Throughout last season, he also threw down blistering relay splits of 19.00 in the 50 free and 41.99 in the 100 free, showing he can step up and perform on relays. Auburn failed to score in the 200 and 400 free relay last season, and Rice will play a pivotal role in returning them to the top 16 in 2027.

3. Rowan Cox (Previous Rank: #3) — Longhorn Aquatics — James Bowie High School — Austin, TX **Committed to Texas**

Best Times:

100 fly: 45.47 (best in class) 200 fly: 1:43.92 100 back: 46.17 50 back: 21.55 200 IM: 1:45.12 50 free: 19.91 100 free: 43.13 200 free: 1:34.37 500 free: 4:21.03 1000 free: 9:08.45 1650 free: 15:22.77 200 back: 1:43.42 400 IM: 3:53.12 100 breast: 56.21

Cox maintains his place as the class pace car in the 100 fly while also ranking 2nd in the 100 back, 4th in the 200 fly and owning strong all-around times in the freestyle events. He’s coming off a phenomenal season where he dropped time in every single SCY event outside of the 1650 free, doing most of the damage in his best events at Winter Juniors – West in December. Competing on home soil in Austin, Cox established new bests in the 50 free (19.91), 100 free (43.13), 200 free (1:34.37), 500 free (4:21.03), 100 back (46.17) and 200 IM (1:45.21). In the 100 fly, he touched 1st in the final of the 100 fly (registering a time of 45.40) before being disqualified for a false start—he later added a 45.67 fly split on the Longhorn Aquatics 400 medley relay. He opened the new year by hitting a new best of 1:43.92 in the 200 fly, lowering his previous PB by half a second, and then he was a dominant force during the UIL high school postseason, winning 6A state titles in the 100 back (46.27) and 100 fly (45.47), hitting a new best in the latter to reaffirm his place as the fastest swimmer in the class. He also lowered his 50 back PB down to 21.55, ranking him #1 in the class (though we’re not officially tracking the stroke 50s). Set to join a dominant Texas team that’s won back-to-back NCAA titles, Cox will have an incredible training group to join in Austin and will likely become an immediate NCAA scoring threat in the 100 fly. The 100 back and 100 fly no longer clash on the NCAA schedule, at least as it currently stands, so he could also race the 100 back, and then his 200 IM and 100 free are both viable options for his Day 4 event. While he’ll surely be a big part of the Texas relays in the future, there is a chance he steps into some ‘A’ teams right away. He could challenge Kyle Peck for the fly spot in the 400 medley relay with the graduation of Hubert Kos, and Cox could eventually take over the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay with Will Modglin entering his final season of eligibility. Continued improvement in the 100 and 200 free will put Cox in the running for a future spot on the Longhorns’ 400 and 800 free relays as well.

2. Gabriel Manteufel (Previous Rank: #2) — Sandpipers of Nevada — Las Vegas, NV **Committed to Indiana**

Best Times:

1650 free: 14:40.21 (best in class) 1000 free: 8:46.56 (best in class) 500 free: 4:13.55 (best in class) 200 free: 1:36.17 400 IM: 3:48.29 200 IM: 1:49.90 100 free: 45.65

Manteufel raced sparingly throughout the 2025-26 short course season, and though it only appears he raced one individual event tapered throughout the entire campaign, he certainly made an impact in it. At Winter Juniors – West in December, Manteufel dominated the field, winning by nearly 13 seconds in 14:40.21 to lower his previous best of 14:41.11 and put up a time that would’ve placed 10th at the 2026 NCAA Championships. It also ranks him 10th all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group. In addition to leading by 11 seconds in the mile, the Indiana commit is also the fastest swimmer in the class in the 500 free (4:13.55) and 1000 free (8:46.56), both set last season, with the 500 time putting him under the NCAA cutline and just eight-tenths outside the 2026 scoring cut-off. In terms of a third NCAA postseason event, Manteufel could end up racing the 400 IM, as we saw Indiana freshmen Josh Bey, Noah Cakir and Luke Whitlock all thrive in the event last year. He hasn’t raced the SCY 400 IM since March 2025, however. The other option would be the 200 free, though there’s a question if he has enough pure speed to be able to be competitive in the event at the collegiate level with only two career swims sub-1:37. For the 400 IM, his Sandpipers of Nevada background should help him remain competitive even if he primarily focuses on freestyle training in Bloomington. Manteufel is entering the summer on good form, having set a new long course best time in the 1500 free (15:13.72) at the Speedo Grand Challenge in late May.

1. Baylor Stanton (Previous Rank: #1) — Gwinnett Aquatics — Brookwood High School — Lawrenceville, GA **Committed to Cal**

Best Times:

200 IM: 1:41.62 (best in class) 400 IM: 3:40.48 (best in class) 200 breast: 1:53.36 200 back: 1:39.79 (best in class) 100 back: 46.12 (best in class) 200 free: 1:34.56 500 free: 4:17.39 1000 free: 8:56.32 1650 free: 15:13.99 200 fly: 1:44.84 100 fly: 47.50 100 breast: 54.84 100 free: 44.23 50 free: 20.01

The undisputed best swimmer in the class, Stanton had a phenomenal season that saw him establish new best times across the board and put himself into NCAA scoring territory in the 200 IM. Already the fastest swimmer in the class last year with his time of 1:44.04, Stanton dropped down to 1:42.85 en route to winning the 200 IM title at Winter Juniors – East, and then followed up by blasting a stunning time of 1:41.62 at the Southeastern Meet of Champions in March. That time would’ve comfortably earned a second swim at NCAAs (1:42.39 cut-off) and would be pushing for a spot in the ‘A’ final (1:41.22 cut-off). At Winter Juniors, the Gwinnett Aquatics product also won the national titles in the 500 free (4:17.39) and 400 IM (3:40.48), and landed on the podium in the 100 back (46.65), 200 back (1:40.55) and 200 fly (1:44.84), setting best times in all but the 100 back. After cruising to the GHSA 6A state titles in the 100 back (46.92) and 200 IM (1:44.49) in early February, Stanton went nuclear at the Southeastern Meet of Champions, claiming victories and setting best times in the 200 free (1:34.56), 1000 free (8:56.32), 100 back (46.12), 200 back (1:39.79) and 200 breast (1:53.36) in addition to the 200 IM. Stanton has a big gap over the rest of the class in both IM events, and he’s also the only swimmer sub-1:40 in the 200 back and holds a narrow lead over Rowan Cox in the 100 back. Stanton’s versatility is on full display by the fact that he also ranks 2nd in the class in the 200 breast, 4th in both the 500 and 1000 free, and is one of eight boys sub-1:35 in the 200 free. In college, Stanton projects to be a very similar swimmer to another Baylor, Texas’ Baylor Nelson, who is among the best in the nation in the 200 and 400 IM and usually swims the 200 breast as a third event, where he’s a scoring threat. With the new NCAA schedule separating the 200 IM and 200 breast, Stanton would likely swim both, though the 200 back is certainly an option as well. He’ll step in and immediately be Cal’s top swimmer in the 200 IM, while he ranks 2nd to Ryan Erisman in the 400 IM, and for the 200s, he’ll have some good training partners in Humberto Najera and Keaton Jones (200 back) and reigning NCAA champion Yamato Okadome (200 breast).

BONUS LOOKBACK:

Feeling nostalgic? Here’s a look back at our historic recruiting class rankings, plus our retrospectives of those classes after four NCAA seasons:

BOYS Recruiting Class High School Class of 2028 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores High School Class of 2027 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks As Juniors High School Class of 2026 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks As Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors High School Class of 2025 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks As Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors High School Class of 2024 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks As Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors High School Class of 2023 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks As Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors High School Class of 2022 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks as Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors High School Class of 2021 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks as Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2020 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks as Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2019 Ranks as Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2018 Ranks as Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2017 Ranks as Juniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2016 Ranks as Juniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2015 Ranks as Juniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2014 Ranks as Juniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2013 Ranks as Juniors Post-college retrospective

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Re-Rank: Top 20 NCAA Swimming Recruits In The Boys’ High School Class of 2026

Hence then, the article about re rank top 20 ncaa swimming recruits in the boys high school class of 2026 was published today ( Monday 08/06/2026 - 03:36 PM ) and is available on swimswam ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Re-Rank: Top 20 NCAA Swimming Recruits In The Boys’ High School Class of 2026 )

Also on site :

• Fat Joe backs ‘very misunderstood’ James Dolan after Knicks owner had his back with Dan Gilbert threat
• When is Serena Williams’ tennis comeback? How to watch Queen’s doubles
• India Rising – Gaming Festival Tickets Are Now Live