Bold headline: A Serbian sprint talent picks Princeton for 2027–28, turning heads in the college swimming scene. And this is where the story gets more interesting, because it blends elite athletics with top-tier academics in a package that raises a few provocative questions.
Nemanja Maksic, the 2025 European Junior bronze medalist in the 50 butterfly, has publicly committed to Princeton University for the 2027–28 academic year. He confirmed to SwimSwam that his decision was driven by Princeton’s combination of strong academics, excellent coaching, and the chance to be part of a standout team.
Background and rising trajectory: Maksic hails from Belgrade, Serbia, and trains with PK Novi Sad, specializing in sprint butterfly. He has held every Serbian national age-group record from ages 10 through 18 in the 50 fly. Last summer, he earned bronze at the 2025 European Junior Championships in Šamorín, Slovakia, while also breaking Serbia’s 17/18 national record with a 23.78 in the event.
In competition earlier this year, Maksic posted personal bests at the Golden Bear International in Zagreb (100 free 51.15, 100 fly 54.10). He also recorded a personal best in the 50 free (23.51) at the Malmsten Swim Open in Stockholm in the previous season.
Role within Princeton’s class of 2031: Maksic joins a recruiting class that already includes verbal commitments from Jonny Palamar, Cade Vieler, Jack Cunningham, Jose Rodriguez, Kannen Crossland, and Max Van Stone (diving). Notably, Maksic’s best converted 100 fly time would have reached the B final at the 2025 Ivy League Championships, and his 50/100 free times were narrowly shy of making second swims for finals.
Princeton’s current butterfly landscape shows three under-47 seconds this season: sophomore Logan Noguchi (46.52), freshman Alex Townsend (46.84), and senior Conor McKenna (46.86). When Maksic arrives, the Tigers’ sprint group is expected to expand further with 2026 recruits Yury Kuzmenko (free 19.55/43.34, fly 47.18), Isaiah Tucker (46.61/1:46.74 fly), Michael Geh (44.49 free/47.90 fly), and Australian sprinter Ben Cotroneo (LCM 23.09/49.24 free).
Converted long-course benchmarks (for context):
- 50 fly: 23.78 (converted to approximately 20.79)
- 100 fly: 54.10 (converted to approximately 47.31)
- 100 free: 51.15 (converted to approximately 44.23)
- 50 free: 23.51 (converted to approximately 20.31)
Important note on admissions: In the Ivy League, a verbal commitment from a coach does not constitute an admission offer. The admission decision rests with the university’s Admissions Office. Ivy League schools do not issue Likely Letters prior to October 1 of a prospective student-athlete’s senior year. A Likely Letter reflects an early assessment of an application, but it is not an admission offer.
If you have a commitment to report, SwimSwam invites you to email a landscape photo and a quote to the address provided on the site.
About the sponsor and the tour:
Fitter & Faster Swim Camps deliver innovative training platforms for competitive swimmers at all levels, with programs across the United States and Canada led by elite coaches and swimmers. Visit fitterandfaster.com to locate a camp near you.
If you’d like updates or insights from the broader college swim recruiting landscape, would you prefer this coverage to focus more on the athletes’ training plans and college fit, or on the competitive results and times that shape national rankings? Share your thoughts in the comments.
