National Junior Teamer Reece Whitley Verbally Commits to Cal

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

One of the biggest names in the class of 2018, Pennsylvania-native Reece Whitley gave a verbal commit to the Cal Golden Bears and head coach Dave Durden on Saturday. Whitley announced his commitment via Twitter.

Very excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of California, Berkeley! #GoBears pic.twitter.com/A28LKCwaOa

— Reece Whitley (@_reecewhitley) June 17, 2017

Whitley has been one of the most sought after recruits in the country. His best breaststroke times are 51.84 and 1:52.37 in short course yards. He broke the national high school record this year in the 100 breast with his 51.84 in February.

Whitley’s best time in the 100 breast would have put him in the championship final at this year’s NCAA championships, and his 200 best would have placed him fourth.

Whitley was also a member of the 2015 National Junior Team that competed in Singapore at the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships. Whitley picked up a silver medal in the 100 breaststroke at those World Junior Championships with a 1:01.00, behind Russian Anton Chupkov. He also swam on the silver medal-winning 400 medley relay team at those championships. He was also fourth in the 200 at that meet.

His best long course times are 1:01.00 and 2:11.30, both of those times happening when he was 15. Whitley was 13th in the 100 (1:01.41) and 14th in the 200 (2:15.18) at last summer’s Olympic Trials.

Whitley can also swim a fast 200 and 400 IM, where he swam a 1:43.93 and 3:47.15 at the East Junior National Championships last December. He will join a Cal team in the fall of 2018 that is already getting National Junior teamers Ryan Hoffer, Sean Grieshop and Bryce Mefford coming in the fall of 2017.

head coach Dave Durden on Saturday. Whitley announced

[RACE VIDEO] Reece Whitley Drops 100 Breast National Independent School Mark Below 52 Seconds

25 February 2017

Agon is the proud sponsor of all high school coverage (recruiting, results, state championships, etc.) on SwimmingWorld.com. For more information about Agon, visit their website AgonSwim.com. Reece Whitley continued to impress

Reece Whitley Breaks 100 Breast National Independent HS Record

25 February 2017

Penn Charter junior Reece Whitley achieved a new National Independent High School record mark while swimming in prelims of day two of the 2017 Eastern Interscholastic Swimming & Diving Championships. Whitley uncorked

Reece Whitley Scares 200 IM National Independent School Record at Easterns

24 February 2017

Alex Sumner, Reece Whitley Among Top Seeds During Easterns Day One

24 February 2017

Reece Whitley Sets National Age Group Record in 200 Yard Breaststroke

10 December 2016

It was all Reece Whitley dropping almost 3 seconds from his morning swim to set a new 15 and 16 National Age Group Record with a time of 1:52.37 in

Reece Whitley, Michael Andrew Highlight 2016 NCSA Juniors Psych Sheet

14 March 2016

The 2016 NCSA Juniors National Championships begin tomorrow in Orlando, FL with the short-course distance events. The meet, which boasts a wide variety of talented swimmers ages 13-18, hosts a

Morning Swim Show: Dr. Karl and Reece Whitley Talk About Family

25 February 2016

In this episode, Reece Whitley and his father, Dr. Karl Whitley, talk with Swimming World Magazine Publisher, Brent Rutemiller, about family, background, balance, and future after Reece’s meet records set

To report a college commitment, email HS@swimmingworld.com.
Join Swimming World’s Watch List

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use