TEMPE, Ariz. – Boasting yet another exceptional recruiting class, the Sun Devil men's swimming program's 2018 haul was chosen as the No. 5 class in the nation, according to Swim Swam magazine's annual evaluation of NCAA Division I swimming classes.
The highly-touted Sun Devil class features 16 freshman and seven four-year university transfers spanning 12 states including Missouri, Ohio, Arizona, Virginia, Texas, Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York and one international student from Australia.
"I'm excited to welcome this outstanding group of young men to our program," coach Bob Bowman said. "Their performance potential is unprecedented in the history of ASU Swimming. This class showcases the scope of our recruiting efforts both domestically and internationally."
Swim Swam recognized freshmen Cody Bybee, Noah Henry, Khalil Fonder and transfers Jack Kucharczyk (Indiana) and Carter Swift (Eastern Michigan) as top-tier additions to the class.
The class, recognized as one of the nation's largest signing groups, rose quickly through the rankings, as only one of the class' prospects broke the magazine's top-20 list in the summer of 2017. After huge senior campaigns, that number tripled to three.
Bybee, ranked the No. 7 recruit in the 2018 class by Swim Swam, is the best 100 flyer in his class with a lifetime best of 46.50. With the graduation of Andrew Porter, Bybee represents much needed depth for the Sun Devils in that event.
On the backstroke side, Henry represents the nation's best in the 100 back, with a lifetime best of 46.82. The Texan also has the potential to add depth to ASU's fly and free relay lineup as well, and looks to join 2018 NCAA qualifier Zach Poti among the Sun Devil backstrokers.
Fonder rounds out the talented freshmen class highlighted by Swim Swam, representing the third recruit to put up a sub-47 fly (46.91).
The class boasts nine swimmers with 100 free times of 44.9 or better, five with 50 free bests of 20.3 or better and six with 200 free bests at 1:36.6 or better. This adds to an already strong crop of Sun Devil free stylers that includes Cameron Craig, who owns all 10 of the top-10 200 free times in ASU history and Grant House, who put up the No. 24 time in the world during the 2017-18 season in the 200 free over the summer.
Last season, the Sun Devil men ended the season in the top-10 in the nation (No. 8) and tallied several impressive wins including defeating reigning national champion No. 2 Texas at home in January. In 2017, the ASU men improved by 30 places at NCAA's and look for an additional improvement in a top-10 finish this season.
The Sun Devil men open the 2018-19 season with their annual intrasquad on September 28 before diving into the regular season at Florida State on October 26. Fans can follow the action all season long by checking out @ASUSwimDive on Twitter.
The highly-touted Sun Devil class features 16 freshman and seven four-year university transfers spanning 12 states including Missouri, Ohio, Arizona, Virginia, Texas, Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York and one international student from Australia.
"I'm excited to welcome this outstanding group of young men to our program," coach Bob Bowman said. "Their performance potential is unprecedented in the history of ASU Swimming. This class showcases the scope of our recruiting efforts both domestically and internationally."
Swim Swam recognized freshmen Cody Bybee, Noah Henry, Khalil Fonder and transfers Jack Kucharczyk (Indiana) and Carter Swift (Eastern Michigan) as top-tier additions to the class.
The class, recognized as one of the nation's largest signing groups, rose quickly through the rankings, as only one of the class' prospects broke the magazine's top-20 list in the summer of 2017. After huge senior campaigns, that number tripled to three.
Bybee, ranked the No. 7 recruit in the 2018 class by Swim Swam, is the best 100 flyer in his class with a lifetime best of 46.50. With the graduation of Andrew Porter, Bybee represents much needed depth for the Sun Devils in that event.
On the backstroke side, Henry represents the nation's best in the 100 back, with a lifetime best of 46.82. The Texan also has the potential to add depth to ASU's fly and free relay lineup as well, and looks to join 2018 NCAA qualifier Zach Poti among the Sun Devil backstrokers.
Fonder rounds out the talented freshmen class highlighted by Swim Swam, representing the third recruit to put up a sub-47 fly (46.91).
The class boasts nine swimmers with 100 free times of 44.9 or better, five with 50 free bests of 20.3 or better and six with 200 free bests at 1:36.6 or better. This adds to an already strong crop of Sun Devil free stylers that includes Cameron Craig, who owns all 10 of the top-10 200 free times in ASU history and Grant House, who put up the No. 24 time in the world during the 2017-18 season in the 200 free over the summer.
"We have specifically targeted talented freestyle swimmers because the foundation of championship performance is the relays," Bowman said. "Our depth in the sprints and middle distance events will be crucial to our success at the PAC-12 and NCAA levels."
Transfers Swift, Kucharczyk, Nick Carlson (Indiana) Gage Kohner (Northwestern) are set to provide leadership as well as talent to the 2018-19 squad that will return four 2018 NCAA qualifiers in Craig, Danny Comforti, House and Poti.Last season, the Sun Devil men ended the season in the top-10 in the nation (No. 8) and tallied several impressive wins including defeating reigning national champion No. 2 Texas at home in January. In 2017, the ASU men improved by 30 places at NCAA's and look for an additional improvement in a top-10 finish this season.
The Sun Devil men open the 2018-19 season with their annual intrasquad on September 28 before diving into the regular season at Florida State on October 26. Fans can follow the action all season long by checking out @ASUSwimDive on Twitter.