Ranking The 2025 Men’s NCAA Recruiting Classes: 1-4 ...Middle East

By Sam Blacker on SwimSwam

Welcome to the best-of-the best for the 2025 men’s NCAA recruiting class rankings. We are onto our final set of four schools, including our #1 ranked recruiting class this year.

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A few important notes on our rankings:

Honorable Mentions

Previously Ranked

Best NCAA Swimming and Diving Recruiting Classes: Men’s Class of 2025

#4 Florida Gators

After a bit of a down year for the distance squad last year, Florida have massively restocked and bring in the last two world champions in the 800 and 1500 freestyles. The most recent of those, Ahmed Jaouadi, was a finalist in Paris last summer but reached new heights this year, soaring to #3 all-time in the 800 and #1 in textile with his gold medal-winning time of 7:36.88, and #6 all-time in the 1500 in 14:34.41. He is the reigning short course world champion in the 1500 as well (14:16.40), and will be the prohibitive favorite in the mile this year. His conversions are elite, 4:11.64 in the 500 and 14:16.35 in the mile, although he does not have a clear third event yet. Still, he looks a good bet for 25-30 points already at NCAAs and has progressed immensely over the last couple of years.

Ahmed Hafnaoui, the 2023 world champion in the 800 and 1500 who ranks 4th and 3rd all-time, respectively, is a huge transfer in from Indiana with three years of eligibility left. However, there are some big question marks around the form that he is in and what can be expected from him in yards. He was well off his bests at the 2024 World Championships last February, missing the final in the 400, 800 and 1500 free at the lightly-attended meet, and has not competed since as he serves a 21-month suspension for an anti-doping violation, caused by missing three out-of-competition tests within a 12-month period. He swam just two meets for Indiana in the 2023-24 season, setting times of 4:18.62 in the 500 free and 8:55.74 in the 1000, but with long course times of 3:40.70 in the 400 free, 7:37.00 in the 800 free, and 14:31.59 in the 1500, figures to be much faster if he is anywhere close to top form. One note on his availability – the NCAA is not a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, follows its own testing procedures, and most importantly is not necessarily bound by suspensions issued by World Aquatics. His suspension runs out on January 10, 2026, but we could therefore still see him in action before then, although he is not currently listed on the Gator’s roster.

Koen de Groot is the first of several elite internationals, and as a world finalist in the 50 breast this summer who is 26.71/59.93 in long course, will help fill the hole left by Julian Smith. He is listed as a senior on the roster so will only be around for a single season, but should be an elite option alongside Aleksas Savickas. With bests of 25.86/57.49 in short course, he will likely adapt quickly. Also in Gainesville for a solitary season is Brit Charlie Hutchison. He is a mid-distance free and IM swimmer who won a pair of medals at the European U23 championships this summer, setting best times in the 200 free (1:46.84) and 400 IM (4:14.12). He is fantastic in short course meters as well, with bests of 3:40.19 in the 400 free and 4:03.33 in the 400 IM, and his conversions project him to be an NCAA qualifier in those two events as well as the 200 free. He is a potential scorer in all three, with those conversions standing at 1:32.48 in the 200 free, 3:40.73 in the 400 IM, and 4:13.56 in the 500 free.

Nils Micolau arrives from Spain to shore up the breaststroke ranks following the graduation of Julian Smith. With best times of 1:00.31 in the 100 and 2:10.92 in the 200, which convert to 51.94/1:53.13, he should be a big-time SEC scorer from the get-go. With a 1:59.87 200 IM as well, which converts to a 1:42.94, he has a perfect third event set out for him.  Alex Cohoon, a British sprint specialist, has long course bests of 21.90 in the 50 free and 48.20 in the 100 free. They convert to 19.01/41.83, and given the success that his countryman Alex Painter had last year for the Gators would be a massive part of the free relays and a good bet for an individual scorer at SECs and NCAAs. However, he does not appear on their roster for this season currently, which would be a big hit. He was included in by the Gators in their announcement for Ahmed Jaouadi just last month though, so we’ll take a best-case view and assume he will be in Gainesville this year.

This ranking is fairly dependent on the guys who have committed showing up, so there is a bit of a hedge on the ranking.

The domestic recruits feature HM Marvin Johnson, a 19.55/43.04 sprinter out of Tennessee who should help strengthen the sprint group and keep the ‘freestyle university’ legacy going. BOTR Jordan Willis, a World Junior medalist in the 200 breast two years ago, brings times of 53.76 in the 100 and 1:55.60 in the 200 that could see him develop into a depth piece at the conference level.

Finally, they bring in 2024 World Junior Champion diver Jesus Agundez on the boards. With plenty of international experience, he could be an important piece of this international-heavy, but truly elite, incoming class.

#3 Texas Longhorns

Texas brings in the breakout star of this class in Campbell McKean, who already looks like he’ll be one of the best breaststrokers in the NCAA in his freshman year, and adds some elite pieces around him. McKean already figures to be a star after he broke out in the short course pool this year to lead the class in both breaststroke distances with times of 51.28 and 1:53.54, but looks foundational after a stellar summer in long course. His 100 breast in yards would have scored at last years NCAAs, placing 15th in finals, and the conversion of his long course 58.96 is 50.72, quick enough for 8th . He became the fastest 18-and-under swimmer in history (at the time) when he swam that 58.96 to win the 100 breast at U.S. Nationals, skipping over the 59s completely. While he didn’t quite match that swim in Singapore, he was 59.98 and 59.74 in his two individual swims, along with relay splits of 59.32 and 59.07. With strong IM times of 1:41.19 in the 200 and 3:42.54 in the 400 he has his third event nailed on already, even before he starts working with the best IM coach in the world right now.

Their other top domestic recruit is Aiden Hammer, who reclassified from the class of 2026 to graduate early and start at Texas this fall. He is a fantastic distance freestyler, and is another who had a breakout summer in long course. He placed 3rd at U.S. Nationals in the 1500 free in a time of 15:05.13 and set personal bests of 3:49.42 in the 400 and 7:55.94 in the 800. While he added time at the World Junior Championships in the 1500, he dropped time in the 400 (3:48.20) and 800 (7:51.68) again. In yards he has a best of 15:10.49 in the mile, 4:14.21 in the 500 free (just outside scoring at NCAAs) and 1:35.85 in the 200 free, looking a near perfect recruit considering Texas’ distance tradition. He likely has a chunk of time to drop in the 1650 as well, with his long course time converting to 14:51.18, nearly 20 seconds faster than his yards best. With solid 200 fly and 200 back times as well, he will be a real asset for the Longhorns. Michael Gorey could be a nice IM swimmer, coming in from Carmel with bests of 1:46.92 in the 200 and 3:54.82 in the 400 IM

A pair of internationals sprint recruits will add top end talent to the freestyle group. Rafael Fente-Damers is a superb long course swimmer across the 50, 100, and 200, holding best times of 21.98, 48.02 and 1:47.07. Those convert to some truly elite times in yards of 19.07 in the 50, 41.69 in the 100, and 1:32.68 in the 200, and he should be an ‘A’ final threat at SECs in his freshman season, as well as a potential scorer at NCAAs. He will likely have a place on four relays at a minimum for the Longhorns, and may well be their top sprinter already . Calvin Fry will vie with him for that mantle, and encouragingly is better in meters in short course, where he is 21.35 in the 50 free and 47.11 in the 100. His conversations should already see him in scoring range at SECs, at 19.34 in the 50 free and 42.45 in the 100, and he should also be a good bet to be on the 200 and 400 free relays next season, both of which placed outside the top five at NCAAs and lost two swimmers this summer. Fry is also 1:44.96 in the 200 free in short course meters, so could have try that event on for size – Texas being possibly the best place in the world to develop in that event.

One big reason for their placement here is a pair of elite transfers who come to Austin from in-state rivals Texas A&M. Baylor Nelson will have just a single season with the Longhorns, but has finished no lower than 10th in the 400 IM in any of the last three years at NCAAs. He also scored 14.5 points overall last year, but had 27 in 2024 and 19 in 2023. He has already been training at Texas through the summer, and responded with a big best of 4:12.69 in the 400 IM at the World University Games, along with his second-fastest 200 free time ever. Jacob Wimberly is the second swimmer coming in, and has potential in the 200 free (1:32.86), 200 back (1:43.82), 200 fly (1:44.07), and 200 IM (1:44.08). He scored in the 200 free, 200 fly, and 200 IM at SECs last year, and will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Their one final big piece is currently one up in the air slightly. Ksawery Masiuk committed for this season, and reaffirmed back in April that he would be joining up with the training group in Austin this fall. However, he doesn’t appear on the roster currently, and his status for this season has not yet been clarified. If he does join, he gives the Longhorns another elite backstroker alongside Hubert Kos and Will Modglin, with all three swimming under 52.6 in the long course 100 last season. Masiuk’s long course best of 52.55 converts to a time of 44.65 in yards, a scoring time at NCAAs, and he brings elite times in the 100 fly (51.73) and 200 back (1:56.48), which convert to 45.26 and 1:40.42, both elite times at conference level and just outside scoring at NCAAs. He also split 47.48 on Poland’s 4×100 free relay this summer – that converts to 41.27, faster than any returning Longhorn split last year on the 400 free relay.

Texas bring in some big hitters to a squad that already looked to be the strongest in the country. and have a blend of immediate impact scorers, important relay legs, and swimmers with space to develop. They will score a lot of points at both the conference and national level.

#2 Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana’s incoming class is fantastic, as they bring in three top-20 recruits, including two of the top six. Luke Ellis would figure to make the biggest impact for the Hoosiers, with an elite 14:29.48 in the mile, and two fantastic secondary events in the 500 free (4:15.54) and the 400 IM (3:42.94). While his best in the mile is from last season he was still 14:40.01 this year, which would have scored at NCAAs, and is already elite by NCAA standards. He will have a pair of fantastic training partners at Indiana in NCAA mile champ Zalan Sarkany and fellow addition Luke Whitlock, who transfers in from Florida after sitting the summer out to rehab his shoulder. Whitlock was an Olympian last year, placing second at Olympic Trials in the 800 free and leading prelims of the 400, and has best times of 4:15.76 in the 500 free and 14:49.90 in the 1650 free, set at last year’s UGA Fall Invitational whilst at Florida. That group should rival Florida for the strongest distance group in the NCAA.

Moving back towards traditional strengths, Josh Bey looks like the ideal Indiana swimmer – a breaststroker with elite IM chops. He is already within scoring range at Big Tens on both breaststroke distances, with times of 52.68 in the 100 and 1:53.74 in the 200, and is a potential ‘A’ finalist in the 400 IM. He would have placed 5th last year with his best of 3:$2.61, which was a seven-second drop for the year, and his versatility does not end there. He is 43.53/1:35.16 on free, which could see him play a part on the freestyle relays as well. Fellow breaststroker and #18 recruit Noah Cakir is very similar, strong across breast and IM with some freestyle chops. He is slightly faster than Bey on the 100 at 52.34, and is 1:54.45 in the 200, alongside going 1:45.27/3:46.29 in the IMs. He is a fantastic 200 fly swimmer in 1:45.30, also swimming the event at the World Junior CHampionships this summer, and will strengthen Indiana in that area after the graduation of Tomer Frankel.

Andrew Shackell will stay in-state and brings 47.04/1:44.82 speed on fly that should see him in line to score some points at Big Tens this year. Lukas Paegle will also add depth in the stroke, although is more focused in the 100 where he has a best of 47.85. David Kovacs is an extremely versatile recruit across back (47.52/1:44.28), fly (47.66/1:46.35), and IM (1:46.64), and will have several different avenues to choose from, although the backstroke/IM route may be the best one for him in Indiana. Brandon Fleck is 20.24/43.73/1:35.99 on freestyle, as well as 48.4 on both the 100 back and 100 fly, another who will have several avenues available in Bloomington while contributing to the Hoosier’s depth.

They have a further two transfers coming in addition to Whitlock, both of whom project to be impactful at Big Tens as a minimum. Aaron Shackell joins his sister Alex (and younger brother Andrew) in Bloomington and is the biggest name of the incoming transfers after making the Olympic 400 free final last summer, and then qualifying for the Pan PACs team with a best of 3:45.03 at Senior Summer Nationals. He is elite in mid-distance free in yards, with a best of 1:32.85 in the 200 and 4:15.35 in the 500, however his long course conversions project to be much faster. He is 1:46.35/3:45.03 in the 200 and 400 free in the big pool, which convert to 1:32.05 in the 200 and 4:10.61 in the 500, the latter of which would have been just off making the ‘A’ final at last year’s NCAAs. It will remain to be seen how he fares on his third NCAA team in three years, but being close to home could see him at his best. Travis Gulledge moves from Texas A&M as an NCAA qualifier in the 100 breaststroke, and has best times of 51.56/1:53.89. He should have a big role to play with the departure of several elite breaststrokers from Bloomington over the summer, and has three years of eligibility remaining.

Diver Josh Hedberg was our #1 recruit when we ranked the class last November. He was already a double world championships qualifier, first making the team in 2022 aged just 15 and finishing 10th in the 10m platform event. Fast forward to this fall and he is a world junior champion and a senior world bronze medalist in the 10m synchro event, competing alongside his new Indiana teammate Carson Tyler. He should immediately be a scoring threat on the 10m at NCAAs, and was a world junior championship qualifier on the 3m in 2022 and could make moves in that event.

This is a deep, elite class for the Hoosiers, which should both make an immediate impact and stay strong throughout the next four years.

#1 Virginia Cavaliers

Does Virginia’s spot here even need to be explained? There were two generational talents in this class, and the Hoos picked up them both and added a wealth of talent around them.  Maximus Williamson and Thomas Heilman own class-leading times in seven events between them, and each enter the NCAA with at least one ‘A’ final-worthy time. 

Williamson is a phenomenal freestyler, and his time of 1:30.54 in the 200 is actually the fastest best time of anyone in the NCAA this year. That would have won ACCs this year, and placed 6th at NCAAs – which would have been more points (13) than Virginia scored as a whole at the meet last year (12). He is elite in the 100 (41.54) and 50 (19.26!!!!!!) as well, but his talents do not stop there. He will be a title threat at ACCs in his freshman year, and an ‘A’ final threat at NCAAs at a minimum. 

Heilman crosses over with Williamson in free and IM, but brings phenomenal fly times. Incumbent flyer Spencer Nicholas had a breakout ACCs, but Heilman is on another level already and is just one part of what looks to be a pair of extremely threatening medley relays. His best times of 43.86 in the 100 fly and 1:38.95 in the 200 fly would have scored 29 points at last year’s NCAAs, and he would have added another 3 with his 1:41.26 in the 200 IM. He should be the favorite in both fly distances for ACCs already, and with his freestyle times of 19.24 in the 50, 42.000 in the 100 and 1:32.26 in the 200, is a game-changer for Virginia for any of the five relays. 

Thomas Mercer, the #12 recruit, is elite across fly, back, and IM. He is 47/1:43 in both backstroke and fly, and his 1:43.52 in the 200 IM would have been just three-tenths outside the ‘A’ final at ACCs last year. He would also have been a ‘C’ finalist in the 200 fly, and will be a strong addition to whichever training group he ends up with.

Virginia also brings in a pair of Honorable Mentions in Blake Amlicke and Nathan Szobota. Szobota seems to have shifted more to mid-distance freestyle rather than distance recently, although does have a best of 14:53 in the mile from 2022. He was 1:36.48 in the 200 free and 1:42.00 in the 200 back this year, with the latter already quick enough to score at ACCs. With 1:49.48/3:49.93 speed on the IMs, he has a few avenues to explore in order to maximise points for the team over the next few years. Amlicke is at the opposite end of the spectrum, focused on the 50 and 100 events. He could be a relay contributor immediately with his freestyle times of 19.71 in the 50 and 43.63 in the 100, but he could already be Virginia’s leadoff leg for the 200 medley relay with his 50 back best of 21.47. Simon Linns was just 21.33 for the Hoos last year at ACCs, as they didn’t qualify the relay for NCAAs. Amlicke also goes 46.45 in the 100 back and 1:43.24 in the 200, and will join a strong group that currently includes Jack Aikins and David King.

BOTR Noah Powers will also be a boon on relays with freestyle bests of 19.82 in the 50 and 43.36 in the 100. Grant Murphy is within half a second of the ACC ‘C’ final in the 400 IM with his time of 3:48.10, and is 1:46.04 in the 200 as well as 47.53/1:43.68 on backstroke.  Virginia brings in a couple of elite talents outside of the ranked recruits. In-state recruit Josh Howat is 19.83 in the 50 free and 43.41 in the 100, almost identical to Powers, while Jackson Tishler, also one of Virginia’s top recruits for the 2025 class, is 47.88/1:44.18 on backstroke. South Africa’s Chris Smith, a world finalist in the 50 breast this summer where he was 26.75, is even better in short course meters than long course. He is the World Junior Record holder in the 50 with a time of 25.66, and goes 57.11 in the 100, which converts to a time of 52.35, well within ACC scoring range. FInland’s Davin Lindholm also adds to the breaststroke group with long course bests of 27.82 in the 50 and 1:02.06 in the 100.

This class refreshes just about every area for Virginia, and brings not one but two generational talents to town.

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