A number of uncommitted in the 2027 class. One locally in the bay area (Santa Clara). Any idea if we are pursing anyone else on the men's list?
by
Claire Wong 11April 19th, 2026
College,
College Recruiting,
National,
NewsOn June 15 of 2025, recruiting for the class of 2027 opened. In July,
SwimSwam released a ranking of the top 20 recruits in the class, along with some honorable mentions and the 'best of the rest' in each discipline.
Since then, hundreds of juniors have verbally committed to a collegiate program. However, there are a handful of high-impact swimmers that have yet to announce who they'll be swimming for come fall of 2027. Just two top-20 recruits fall into that category: Santa Clara Swim Club's
Shareef Elaydi and Bolles School's
Cohen Barron Chiam. As of the rankings posted last July, Elaydi is the #3 recruit in the class while Chiam is #17.
The reason for these swimmers not being committed yet could be any one of a number of things, including:
[ol]
They haven't made a decision yetThey've committed privately but haven't made it public yetThey've chosen a school with special entrance requirements. These schools, like the Ivies and U.S. Military Academies, have long eschewed earlier commitments.We've missed their commitment announcementThey've decided to skip college and go pro.They've decided to go to college and not swim.[/ol]
Note that this doesn't include international recruits.RANKED SWIMMERS REMAINING
3. Shareef Elaydi Santa Clara Swim Club Archbishop Mitty High School Santa Clara, CABest Times:- 200 fly: 1:42.80 (best in class)
- 100 fly: 46.78
- 200 IM: 1:43.82
- 400 IM: 3:50.95
- 100 breast: 53.12
- 200 breast: 1:55.12
Elaydi has remained remarkably consistent since the rankings were initially posted, and although he hasn't dropped time in the 200 fly, his 1:42.80 from Winter Juniors in 2024 remains the fastest in his class. He's been within a second of it this year, with his season best sitting at 1:43.76 from Winter Juniors back in December. Elaydi has also knocked around a second off his best time in the 200 IM, as his best time heading into the 2025-2026 season was 1:44.79.
At the Roseville Speedo Sectionals, Elaydi displayed his versatility by showing immense improvement in his breaststroke. He dropped from a 1:58.8 to 1:55.1 in the 200 breast and shaved a hundredth off his PB in the 100 breast, then split a 52.31 breaststroke leg on Santa Clara's 400 medley relay. He also hit bests in his freestyles, posting a 44.24 in the 100 free and a 1:40.46 in the 200 free.
Elaydi is a remarkably versatile swimmer who ranks highly within his class in both the butterflies and breaststrokes, a rather uncommon combination that makes him an asset to whatever team he chooses.
17. Cohen Barron Chiam Bolles School Sharks Bolles School Jacksonville, FLBest Times:- 100 breast: 54.62
- 200 breast: 1:57.14
- 200 IM: 1:48.03
- 400 IM: 3:54.07
Chaim hasn't dropped time in any of his primary events since SwimSwam posted these rankings, and hasn't competed since November of 2025. This is likely due to the fact that although Chiam trains at Bolles, he represents Singapore on the international level and all male Singaporean citizens are legally required to serve a two year period of military service starting at 18 years old.
At his last meet however, which was the Singapore National Championships (SCM), Chaim posted a series of PBs. He was the national champion in the both the 200 IM (2:00.36) and 400 IM (4:20.15), then took national runner up in both the 100 breast (1:01.01) and 200 breast (2:10.90).
BEST OF THE REST
Evan Pan-Wang Metroplex Aquatics (Plano, TX)Best times:
- 100 fly: 47.36
- 100 back: 47.76
- 200 back: 1:45.86
- 200 IM: 1:47.00
- 400 IM: 3:55.16
- 100 free: 44.16
Pan-Wang is a classic fly/back specialist who has improved rapidly over the past year, dropping from 49.2/1:47.6 in the 100/200 backstrokes to 47.7/1:45.8. He has also shaved over half a second off his previous best of 47.9 in the 100 fly added the IMs as competitive events. Last season, his times in the 200 and 400 IM sat at 1:50.05/4:02.90, respectively he has since taken over 3 seconds off the former and 7 seconds off the latter.
Brody Reber Lancaster Aquatic Club (Lititz, PA)Best times:
- 100 back: 47.56
- 200 back: 1:46.43
- 100 fly: 47.99
- 200 IM: 1:47.62
Reber's junior season saw him break both 49 and 48 in the 100 back en route to a bronze medal at the PIAA 3A State Championships. He couldn't quite match his personal best in the 200 back, but has been as fast as 1:47.24 this season. He also added a clear third event thanks to his progression in the 100 fly, as coming into the 2025 season, Reber's PB sat at 50.16. He's now a member of the 47/47 club in the 100 fly/back, putting him in elite company.
Other notable swimmers:
Owen Stauffer Issaquah Swim Team (Issaquah, WA)Best times:
- 50 back: 21.78
- 100 back: 47.09
- 200 back: 1:44.74
- 100 fly: 48.50
Stauffer had a huge breakout season this year, taking his 100 backstroke from 48.99 down to 47.0 a time ranks as the 5th fastest in this class. He's improved in the 200 back as well, shaving over 2 seconds off his PB from last season (1:46.86).
Lysander Mihaly North Carolina Aquatic Club (Durham, NC)Best times:
- 200 free: 1:37.81
- 500 free: 4:25.17
- 1000 free: 9:01.30
- 1650 free: 15:13.39
- 400 IM: 3:52.85
Mihaly is a distance free/400 IM specialist that can also throw down a quick 200 free. The NC native has been one of the most improved swimmers of his class, dropping over 30 seconds in the mile (15:44.28 to 15:14.39), 7 seconds in the 500 (4:32.15 to 4:25.17), and 15 seconds in the 400 IM (4:07.71 to 3:52.85).
Henry Anstine Suburban Seahawks Swim Club (Chester Springs, PA)Best times:
- 50 free: 20.57
- 100 free: 44.06
- 200 free: 1:36.24
Anstine broke major barriers in his primary events this season namely 21 seconds in the 50 free, 45 seconds in the 100 free, and 1:40 in the 200 free. He's now nearing the 43 mark in the 100 and 1:35 in the 200, a rapid progression that, when coupled with his status as a sprinter, likely leaves him as one of the most coveted uncommitted recruits of the class.
- Eje Kim Club Huskers (Lincoln, NE): 47.84/1:44.17 back, 47.81 fly
- Will Van Zee Waukee Waves (Clive, IA): 1:37.4/4:22.7/15:29.8 free
- Brecken Egeland Bend Swim Club (Bend, OR): 1:36.7/4:24.3 free, 1:47.6 fly
- Evan Summers Nittany Lion Aquatic Club (Williamsport, PA): 53.7/1:59.2 breast
- Alex Daile Crimson Aquatics (Cambridge, MA): 47.0/1:47.5 fly
- Max Barnes Michiana Marlins Swim Club (Oscceola, IN): 1:47.9/3:51.0 IM, 1:59.9 breast
- Tristan Furlow Shawmut Aquatic Club (Newport, RI): 1:37.7/4:26.0 free, 3:56.8 IM
