9th-Ranked Recruit in Class of 2015 Ryan Harty Verbally Commits to Texas Longhorns

Ryan Harty verbally committed to the Texas Longhorns on Sunday evening.

Junior National Teamer Ryan Harty of the Greenwood Memorial Swim Club has verbally committed to the Texas Longhorns, his mother and coach Janet Harty informed SwimSwam on Sunday evening.

Harty, who qualified for the Junior National Team in the 100 meter back, is actually fairly versatile beyond just that stroke. His best event in yards is the 200 back, but he has Winter Juniors cuts or better in 8 different yards events and 9 different meters events.

In yards, his best times are:

• 50 free – 20.94
• 100 free – 45.17
• 200 free – 1:39.12
• 100 back – 47.77
• 200 back – 1:42.04
• 100 breast – 56.49
• 200 breast – 2:04.49
• 200 IM – 1:48.33
• 400 IM – 3:50.13

He’s also been 52.2 and 1:54.9 in the 100 and 200 yard butterfly races, and given that those were done at simple mid-year meets, he’s probably capable of more impressive numbers there as well to round out his lineup.

Harty should be an NCAA scorer immediately for the Longhorns as a freshman, and could slide right into the role that will be vacated after this season with the completion of eligibility of senior Kip Darmody (6th at NCAA’s last year in the 200 back, 3rd in the 100 back, and also a big contributor to the Longhorns’ free relays). Except that Harty, with an outstanding breaststroke, is an even better IM’er than is Darmody, adding another wrinkle to his lineup.

Harty has some ties to the Lone Star State: his mom is originally from Houston, though she didn’t go to Texas.

His commitment leaves just 3 of the boys’ top-10 recruits publicly uncommitted: #2 Townley Haas, #7 Cole Cogswell, and #10 Alex Valente.