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Maximus Williamson, the no. 2 ranked recruit in SwimSwam’s way-too-early high school class of 2025 rankings, has verbally committed to the University of Virginia. He joins no. 1 Thomas Heilman, no. 8 Thomas Mercer, and no. 12 Josh Howat in an absolutely loaded class that is arguably starting to become the top male recruiting class for the class of 2025.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyrLowWuX65/?img_index=1
Williamson, a native of Southlake, Texas who swims for the Lakeside Aquatic Club and Keller High School, is the fastest swimmer in the high school class of 2025 in the 400 IM, 100 back, 200 back, 100 free, 200 free, and 500 free. In addition, he is also the second-fastest in his class for the 50 free, 200 IM, and 200 fly, only behind Heilman. He is the current 15-16 U.S. National Age Group record holder in the 200 free, 20o back and 400 IM, with his 400 IM NAG coming from when he crushed Michael Phelps’ 20-year-old former NAG in the event by over four seconds.
In the NCAA, Williamson will be an instant contributor for Virginia both individually and on relays. His 400 IM time would have ‘A’ finaled at 2023 NCAAs, his 200 IM time would have ‘B’ finaled, and his 200 back time is also fast enough to get under the qualification cut line. Notably, his best times in the 200 IM is faster than Virginia’s team record.
Williamson is also coming off a phenomenal long course season where he won world junior titles in the 100 free (48.38) and 200 IM (1:57.29), becoming the fastest 17-year-old of all-time in the latter event and breaking the 17-18 NAG in the former. He also clocked impressive relay split times of 47.58, 47.74, and 47.78 in the 100 free and set a personal best of 1:47.11 in the 200 free to become the no. 8 ranked swimmer in the U.S. 17-18 age group for the event.
Maximus Williamson, Personal Best Times (SCY):
- 400 IM: 3:39.03 (best in class)
- 200 back: 1:40.88 (best in class)
- 100 back: 46.90 (best in class)
- 100 free: 42.49 (best in class)
- 200 free: 1:33.07 (best in class)
- 500 free: 4:16.84 (best in class)
- 50 free: 19.65
- 200 IM: 1:42.07
- 200 fly: 1:44.84
The commitment of Williamson and his classmates brings huge momentum to the Virginia men, who currently don’t have the same starpower as their three-time defending national champion women’s team but could claw their way to the top of the NCAA by virtue of their recruits in the high school class of 2025.
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I think with NIL these guys can make lots of money, swim in college …. enjoy that experience .. and still be amazingly successful financially and in the swimming pool. I’m just stunned at some of these responses …. UVA just landed the recruits of the century and some of you are questioning???? The only way they don’t win 4 in a row is so many of the UVA men are prepping for the Olympics in 2028
The picture was taken right before MW spent an afternoon raking up leaves.
Good choice for Maximus. Once high school is over, in basically 2 years, it will be s good time to build a new friendship base outside of Texas. That’s what college is all about, right? Have fun and swim fast at Virginia.
Should have gone to ASU.
“The revolution is here” now it makes so much sense along with the 7. Congrats Max and to the other 6 huge things coming.
UVA men just jumped up into the top 3 with this class
You need a couple of classes to get into top 3. Obviously, it’s going to be hard to get multiple classes of this quality in a row, but they’ll need a really good 2026 class to get there I think.
They’ll have to recruit that 2026 class before any of these guys get there. Which could be to their benefit or disadvantage, depending on how you look at it and what your expectations are for their results.
Yeah, if you compare what the men have to do to what the women did to get their first title, the UVA women had 2 years in a row of a #1 (Douglass) or #2 recruit (A Walsh) and 3-4 more top 20 recruits in each of those classes. So UVA should at least try to get a #1 or #2 recruit next year and also multiple top 10/top 20 recruits. UVA men definitely need to build and solidify their depth scoring the next few years and get all of their relays to start to regularly make each of the five A finals. The UVA women definitely did those two things the 2 years before they won their title and… Read more »
Top 8 perhaps. Top 3 is a stretch.
Agree, there is always some big separation around the 6-8 range from the teams above and below.
yes agree …. you need a couple of classes to get to the top three unless you have Thomas Heilman and Maximus Williamson …. come on …. these are Michael Phelps talents that can swim in college now!!! Imagine having two Michael Phelps on your team???? OK I am not predicting they are as great as Michael but come on, Thomas already broke Michaels world record and Maximus smashed the 400 IM …. everyone …, these times were as sophomores ….. come on!!!!!
Go Cal!
This is great. Add another team to the battle for NCAAs top 6-7 teams. Makes the team title race that much more interesting to watch.
I agree. It does look like Texas might start to slip though. I think a lot depends on who their new coach is.
NCST, UF, and IU still seem to be very competitive though.