First step was ranking all recruits based on their recruiting scores. These scores take into consideration a swimmer's relative percentile ranking among other high school swimmers over the past three years. A recruit score is based on a minimum of two events with additional events helping to improve a swimmer's ranking.

Teams where then compared on the basis of the rankings of their incoming freshmen. Each team's top-ranked recruit was compared worth other teams' top-ranked recruit with their second-ranked freshmen compared to other second-ranked freshmen, and so forth.

The top ten were largely selected on the basis of their top three and top four swimmers. Beyond the top ten, depth plays a bigger role with the top six recruits forming a larger share of the team rankings.

The recruit rankings do not account for the impact of divers. Transfers were accounted for on a case-by-case basis. While transfers do not appear on each team's recruiting page, their profiles are included here.

Stanford	Number one recruit and a quarter of the top twenty, this class is  loaded for bear, Golden Bear.
#1	1.0 Nolan, David Hershey, PA 1.1 Cosgarea, Drew Owings Mills, MD 1.2 Hommel, Robert Henderson, NV 1.2 Edwards, Jon Houston, TX 1.6 Lane, Jack Atlanta, GA 2.1 Stephens, Thomas Richmond, VA 2.2 Hallowell, Ethan Mercer Island, WA 2.2 Peske, Erich Monte Sereno, CA 2.7 Pickard, Christopher Phoenix, AZ 4.9 Holston, Ben Denver, CO
California	Golden Bears win the NCAA title, but finish second in the Fall signing period.
#2	1.0 Stubblefield, Seth Plano, TX 1.1 Messerschmidt, Tyler Goodyear, AZ 1.2 Hinshaw, Adam Saratoga, CA 1.2 Hamilton, Will Franklin, MI 1.6 Higgins, Christian New Canaan, CT 8.9 Ryckman, Jesse Westlake Village, CA
Texas	With the exception of Youngquist and Darmody, Eddie didn't have to travel far to this class.  Of course those two are as good as any pair in the nation.
#3	1.0 Youngquist, Clay Battle Creek, MI 1.0 Darmody, Kyle Charlotte, NC 2.8 Anderson, Ben Austin, TX 2.9 Allen, Nicholas Austin, TX 3.3 Cooper, Tripp Woodlands, TX 3.8 Ritter, Jacob S Bellaire, TX 4.3 Murphy, Keith Houston, TX 7.9 Rogers, Grant Topeka, KS
Florida	Gators lock up Sunshine State's top five recruits.  Adding Elliott and Ringquist to the mix push this class over the top.
#4	1.0 Caldwell, Nicholas Sarasota, FL 1.3 Omana, Carlos Miami, FL 1.3 Elliott, Matthew D Peoria, IL 2.0 Curby, Matthew Oviedo, FL 2.8 Ringquist, Austin Portland, OR 3.3 Wallace, Dan North Berwick - SCO 3.8 Veale, Thomas Ft lauderdale, FL 4.3 Hamilton, Colin Jacksonville, FL 4.4 Curley, Harrison Winter Park, FL 4.8 Thompson, Matthew Seminole, FL 11.4 Manganiello, Austin Miami, FL 11.4 Munch, Richard Clifton, VA
Ohio State	Buckeyes re-arm for another Big Ten title run and Top Ten finish.
#5	1.6 Gercsak, Tamas Budapest - HUN 1.6 Zimmerman, Steven C Morrow, OH 2.3 Stevenson, Keanu Newburgh, IN 2.4 McDonald, Connor Hillsboro, OR 2.8 Kauffman, Jared Greer, SC 3.3 Meldon, Michael Euclid, OH 5.9 DiSalle, Michael Toledo, OH 5.9 Johnson, Sean Hillsborough, NJ 6.9 Braun, Andrew Louisville, KY 8.4 Osterhage, Raymond Dayton, OH 11.4 Wrightson, Nicholas Lexington, KY 11.9 Williams, Rowan Ottawa Hills, OH 22.9 Pecze, Dominic Amherst, OH 24.9 Monahan, Sean Cincinnati, OH
Georgia Tech	Yellow Jackets land three big gets while building an ACC contender.
#6	1.5 Kosic, Andrew West Chester, PA 1.7 Duijn, Nico Basserdorf - SUI 2.4 Chetcuti, Andrew Dubai - UAE 6.4 Sarman, Mark Ashburn, VA 12.9 Beall, John N Peachtree City, GA 14.9 Kase, Dylan Alpharetta, GA 17.4 Brockelbank, Elliott Alpharetta, GA 17.4 Wei, Wilson Edmond, OK 20.9 Bryant, Kristopher
Missouri	With that facility you can't call Greg Rhodenbaugh a miracle worker, but things have changed in Tiger Town.
#7	1.5 Kozlovskij, Igor Klaipeda - LTU 1.7 O'Halloran, Neil Aloha, OR 3.0 Melo, Ramon Transfer - Tennessee 3.2 Darragh, Mack Oakville - CAN 3.3 Nolan, Connor Southlake, TX 9.4 Tierney, Samuel Plano, TX 10.4 Peavey, Griffin Leawood, KS 19.4 Fish, Robert Bellingham, WA 24.4 Phillips, Andrew Austin, TX 29.9 Glogoza, Alexander Saint Peters, MO
Virginia	Huge shoes to fill, but expect to see some of these names in March.
#8	1.8 Capan, Ivan Zagreb - CRO 1.8 Cottrille, Jean-luc UNIVERSITY, NC 2.3 Pearce, Jacob Tulsa, OK 2.7 Ingraham, David Spartanburg, SC 2.8 Dudzinski, Kyle Upper Saint Clair, PA 3.3 Partin, Jackson APTOS, CA 4.8 Putnam, Charles McLean, VA 5.9 Shaw, Luke San Antonio, TX 10.9 Gean, Pearson Bentonville, AR
USC	Not a huge class, but the Trojans didn't need a huge class.  They needed to fill holes and they did just that.
#9	1.1 Bobrosky, Chad Calgary - CAN 2.3 Wright, Cary Fresno, CA 3.3 Spinazzola, luca Narragansett, RI 5.9 Dalby, Brittain Oak Park, CA
North Carolina	To kids leave the state, but Tarheels get their fair share and add the number-one recruit from New Englandin.
#10	1.5 Myers, Patrick Norfolk, MA 2.2 Glavich, Dominick Cary, NC 4.3 Hill, Tyler Mooresville, NC 5.3 Bollerman, Brian Ridgefield, CT 6.9 Williams, Graham Hickory, NC
Harvard	Harvard's class could leave Princeton fans seeing Crimson.  They'll definitely see it on the Ivy podium.
#11	1.6 Katis, Chuck Falls Church, VA 2.2 McIntee, Kyle Plano, TX 3.4 Schumacher, Griffin New York, NY 3.8 Snyder, Reed Austin, TX 3.8 Walters, Zachary Plano, TX 9.4 Karle, Matthew Mount Kisco, NY 11.4 Zheng, Eric 12.4 Bailey, John Cambridge, MA 23.9 Masuda, Francis Menlo Park, CA
Notre Dame	Big class should help Irish reassert itself in the Big East.
#12	2.4 Miller, Cameron Michigan City, IN 2.8 Stephens, Zachary Bloomsburg, PA 3.3 Jacobsen, Brennan Whittier, CA 3.7 Deblasio, Matthew Dix Hills, NY 4.3 Williamson, Jonathan Lexington, IL 5.3 Nappi, John Pittsburgh, PA 5.3 Hughes, Kevin Rye, NY 5.8 Olson, Patrick Marlton, NJ 7.4 McEldrew, James J Gwynedd, PA 10.4 Donovan, John J Mequon, WI 14.9 Kelley, Broderick Pittsburgh, PA 20.4 Murphy, Patrick Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Princeton	Between Princeton & Harvard you can understand why they score 24-deep at Ivys.  These twelve add up to lucky thirteen for the Tigers.
#13	2.7 Maher, Connor Hamden, CT 2.9 Wagner, Harrison Carmel, IN 3.4 Strand, Michael Chatham, NJ 5.8 Paulk, David Pittsburgh, PA 5.8 Tuten, Caleb Glen Rock, PA 5.9 Hauss, Michael Huntington Beach, CA 6.4 Bennett, Oliver Baltimore, MD 6.8 Klutey, Andrew Ridgefield, CT 9.4 Gonzalez-Aranda, Mauricio Princeton, NJ 24.4 Jager, Conner P Naperville, IL 24.4 Yiu, Nicholas Hong Kong - HKG 41.9 Adrados, Diogo Jupiter, FL
Minnesota	Gophers' best class in recent memory. Some might take time to develop, but the track record indicates they will.
#14	2.4 Samuels, Felix Ferryville - ENG 2.9 Cartwright, Max Edina, MN 4.4 Smith, Clayton J Wilmette, IL 5.9 Brinck, Niklas Nixa, MO 6.9 Hartbarger, Andrew Lone Tree, CO 7.9 Cisneros, Alejandro Mission Viejo, CA 7.9 Johnson, Christopher Austin, TX 7.9 Newenhouse, Carl Cedarburg, WI 8.4 Alef, Grant Maple Park, IL 8.9 Hatanaka, Brandon Denver, CO 9.4 Mills, Corey Calgary - CAN 9.4 Larson, Garrett Newport  Beach, CA 23.9 Gorman, Brian Rapid City, SD
Louisville	Cardinals retain the depth to sustain Big East success and bolster NCAA-capable talent.
#15	2.0 Blondell, Caryle San Fernando - TRI 3.9 Bray, Addison Terre Haute, IN 4.3 Young, Aaron Hillsboro, OR 4.9 Schlytter, Matthew A Louisville, KY 10.4 Isaacs, Adam L Louisville, KY 10.4 Edelen, Rudy W Bowling Green, KY
Tennessee	Another talented Swede leads well-balanced group into Knoxville.
#16	1.2 Hjelm, MÃ¥ns  - SWE 4.9 Slater, Tristan  - ENG 4.9 Scheffer, Benjamin Olathe, KS 6.4 Santana, Eduardo Jacksonville, FL 7.9 McFall, Ryan Springfield, MO 11.4 Sadsad, Christopher Jacksonville, FL 12.4 Taylor, Isaac Knoxville, TN 16.4 Kleinbeck, Shane San Antonio, TX 89.9 Wise, Gerard Vincennes, IN
Georgia	Markham is highest-profile male signee for the Bulldogs since another another Coloradian by the name of Dylla and he turned out pretty well.
#17	1.0 Markham, Jared Centennial, CO 5.9 Onken, Derek Marietta, GA 5.9 Upchurch, Luke Duluth, GA 13.9 Gregory, Will Atlanta, GA
Florida State	Diverse and talented group helps Seminoles hold their own in the ACC.
#18	2.8 Friedel, Josh Fredericksburg, VA 3.3 Rogers, Kevin Raleigh, NC 4.4 Sequera, Juan Carlos Miami, FL 5.4 Fozkos, Tyler Valparaiso, IN 6.9 Brogden, Harrison Greensboro, NC 6.9 Knight, David C North Palm Beach, FL
Virginia Tech	Top half of this class just a step behind their ACC rivals, but if the bottom half develops, VaTech is poised to break through.
#19	2.3 Cefalo, Harrison Highlands, NJ 3.9 Higgins, Collin Weddington, NC 4.9 Crabb, James Manassas, VA 6.4 Latimer, Morgan Washington, VA 6.4 ores, jacob Loveland, Co 9.9 Burns, Owen Palmyra, NJ 11.9 Gastrock, Benjamin Midlothian, VA
Auburn	Wouldn't be surprised to see more additions before classes begin in the Fall.
#20	2.7 Behrens, Kevin Munster, IN 4.2 Browning, Allen Alpharetta, GA 4.3 McKee, Tom Wilmington, DE Fiery, Sean Hanover, PA Gerlach, Donald Transfer - IRCC
Northwestern	International recruit and a Division II transfer?  This is not your father's Northwestern recruiting class.
#21	3.3 Margritier, Matthew Leawood, KS 3.8 Ferguson, Mark Perth - AUS 4.9 Seitz, Andrew Pleasanton, CA 6.4 Kim, Geon Newport Coast, CA 9.4 Rosler, William Bexley, OH Valcic, Toni Transfer - Bridgeport
Navy	Navy set to defend Patriot League titles for years to come.
#22	2.4 Bomberger, Dain Lititz, PA 4.3 Mita, Riley Stevenson Ranch, CA 6.9 Draves, William Gilbertsville, PA 9.4 Kempf, Mccrae Austin, TX 11.4 Stuy, John Carmel, IN 15.4 Cook, Alex Pittsburgh, PA 16.4 Hagan, Benjamin Hershey, PA 25.4 Stoddard, Kevin Highlands Ranch, CO 28.0 Richline, Michael Goshen, IN Bihl, Timothy D Waynesboro, VA
Penn State	After some far-ranging classes, Nittany Lions make inroads into the Middle-Atlantic swimming scene.
#23	3.7 Ekstrom, Jonathan Silver Spring, MD 4.0 Virgilio, Lawrence Pine Bush, NY 6.4 Reed, Nathan Berwyn, PA 6.4 YOUNG, JEFFREY Hershey, PA 6.9 Ratcliff, Kurtis Centreville, VA 9.9 Decker, Ian Leesburg, VA 13.9 Ankosko, Nicholas C South Orange, NJ 32.4 Smiddy, Andrew Miami, FL 40.4 Acar, Adil  - TUR Wensel, Seth Transfer - Tennessee
Maryland	Maryland rebuilding process gets a shot in the arm.
#24	3.4 Speese, David Doylestown, PA 4.9 Rommel, Charlie East Amherst, NY 6.4 Cswerko, Raymond Torrington, CT 6.4 Blyskal, Andrew West Chester, PA 8.9 Madley, Kyle Madison, NJ 8.9 Sterling, Spencer L Silver Spring, MD 13.9 Tynan, Matthew Westford, MA 17.4 Magee, Ryan Chestnut Ridge, NY 26.9 Sears, Aaron Neenah, WI
Pittsburgh	No Super Bowl Championship, but the Pirates have a winning record and Panthers score top-twenty class.  All is well in the Steel City.
#25	4.9 Nosbisch, Luke Monroeville, PA 5.3 Lierley, Jonathan Mount Pleasant, SC 5.4 Ahani, Kourosh Toronto - CAN 5.9 Smith, Robert J Fountain Valley, CA 7.4 Caldwell, Austin Loveland, OH 16.9 Notarianni, Joseph Lakewood, CO 63.4 Pidgeon, John A Fairlawn, VA

Others of Note

Landed a big fish amid a small class -

• Arizona, Purdue, UW-Madison, South Carolina, UNLV, Denver, Yale, 
  

Deepened their talent pool with a big class  - 

• Army, Penn, Boston U, Lehigh

We suspect there's more than meet's the eye -

• Arizona, Iowa, Texas A&M, Michigan, Indiana