2017 Recruiting Class Named No. 12 in the Nation

Aug. 17, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. – International recruits highlight South Carolina swimming and diving’s incoming class, which was named No. 12 in the nation according to SwimSwam.com. The ranking marks the first time a South Carolina men’s swimming class placed in the top-15. The website released their rankings of 2017 men’s NCAA recruiting classes on Thursday, noting Gamecocks Brandonn Almeida and Rafael Davila as two newcomers to watch.

Almeida is coming off a strong showing at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary where he made it through to the finals of the 400-meter IM. The Sao Paulo, Brazil, native also competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, placing 15th in the 400-meter IM and 29th in the 1500-meter freestyle.

A native of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Davila is a distance swimmer with potential to contribute in the 2017-18 season. Davila represents Venezuela on the international stage including the 2015 World Junior Championships and the 2016 South American Championships, where he earned a bronze medal finish in the 800-meter freestyle.

Other additions to the South Carolina men’s roster include AJ Ross from Nokesville, Va., Tama Novoszath from Szeged, Hungary, Alex Overton from Johnson, Iowa, Jack Best from Topsail Beach, N.C. and diver Grant Summers from Atlanta, Ga.