There are certainly uncommitted seniors now that will find schools and teams over the next few months.
4 Likes
Athletes are still being recruited. My son is committed but still getting emails, and in some cases from coaches he never reached out, asking if he’s committed and would be interested in their school. My son has friends still doing official visits. All
Class of 2025.
3 Likes
I’ve seen D1 and D3 programs pick kids up mid summer for a fall start.
Does anyone have a sense of which D1 schools may still be picking up players?
Has Taylor Bell of Serra committed to a school? If so, I missed it.
Are there any other top rated players who are still in the process of making their college decision?
Thanks
If you’re a Spanish goalkeeper or a Hungarian superstar, recruiting season isn’t over for most schools.
Americans though — just totally depends on level of play but I’d say most D1 places are done recruiting Americans. However if you are a stud, they will look.
1 Like
Cam Kocur and Santio Rossi, according to the beast boys insta.
Have not herd any news on Taylor but I would bet both Cam and Taylor are waiting for the last spot at their top choice but have solid back up plans in place if that fall through. scarier this year than in the past with roster limits, however some D1 schools only do 20-24 every year so they can hold one open as long as the student gets accepted but most decisions need to be made by May. Now with the JUCO ruling they might have to start lowering thier expectations.
Presumably, there will be schools who have lost more than they expected in the transfer portal and will be net losers again in the spring. Those may be picking more players up.
1 Like
The outlook for collegiate water polo recruitment is concerning in my opinion especially for 2026 and beyond with the new rules. Top programs, apart from European recruits and high-profile transfer portal players, may have already filled their rosters for 2025. This situation severely impact current high school seniors, and will continue to impact juniors, and potentially even sophomores seeking opportunities to play at the collegiate level.
USA Water Polo needs to address this trend, as many college teams clearly and increasingly relying on older transfer students (aged 20 and up) and 4-6 European players to fill their newly reduced 24-person rosters. If this continues, young American athletes may be discouraged from pursuing the sport, as their pathways to collegiate competition become increasingly limited.
1 Like
Yes, USWP should be pushing NCAA to limit international players on teams. Many schools are UC or Cal State, (funded by the state of California, CA TAX PAYERS, as well as federal aid, everyone’s tax dollars) SO our taxes are going to foreign athletes and boot our kids our of the sport. Privates are a bit different but they are able to keep their tuition high thanks to the federal government subsidizing low income students with federal aid, again tax dollars.
9 Likes
I am all with you, but it’s unclear how USAWaterPolo can mandate anything to the NCAA which governs all sports with these broad sweeping rules.
It is hard enough getting our top athletes to play polo, now take away their chances of college sports, and they certainly will look elsewhere.
I imagine Swimming will suffer here also and you could see the emergence of club / professional swimmers not going to college which is sad to think but appears to be the way of basketball with clubs being more important and competitive than highschool and soon college.
From what I have heard, Taylor Bell has not yet committed. Interesting situation he is in…
1 Like
I know for a fact that he has not committed.
I truly believe the roster limits and uncertainty of rules and NIL have affected it.
Agreed, but they have to find a way to communicate and cooperate otherwise. USA Water Polo has a lot to lose with the new NCAA rules and direction it is heading.
With everything that has gone on the last few years and the changing NCAA rules, the log jam for incoming players is real. I feel for all of the high school players trying to find a roster spot.
6 Likes
What about Cal State Fullerton? Anybody know of any commits there?
I am curious how many of them will come back from last season. Most of them were fourth year JUCO transfers who all gained an extra year. In theory all of their seniors could return giving them their best team yet, however one would need to weight the cost of not bringing in new kids to have one decent season.
Dylan Rosmann (Sage Hill School - Imperial WPC) committed to UCI last May and signed in November.
2 Likes
according to Oaks Christian signing day post, Saul Biddle is now UOP not Pep.
also adding Kai Johnson to Bucknell
2 Likes
According to Jserra’s signing day post, Brian Barnuevo is committed to UCSB.