Jaden Mills Gives NC State First 2028 Recruiting Verbal
CARIFTA champion and Trinidad and Tobago international Jaden Mills has verbally committed to swim for North Carolina State University starting in the
North Carolina State University has secured its first public verbal commitment for the Fall 2028 recruiting class. The pledge comes from Jaden Mills, a junior national qualifier and CARIFTA champion from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He will join the Wolfpack as a member of the university's Class of 2032.
Mills announced his decision on social media. He thanked his family, coaches, and faith for their support. "I’m proud to announce that I’ll be continuing my academic and athletic career at North Carolina State University," Mills wrote. He expressed gratitude to NC State's coaching staff for the opportunity.
Club and High School Career
Jaden Mills trains with McCallie GPS Aquatics in the United States. He is a junior at McCallie School in Tennessee. At the 2026 TISCA Championships, he placed third in the 50-yard freestyle and fourth in the 100-yard freestyle. His efforts helped his team win the 4x50-yard medley relay and finish second in the 4x50-yard freestyle relay. In December, he placed 21st in the 50-yard freestyle at the Juniors East meet.
International Success for Trinidad and Tobago
Mills also represents Trinidad and Tobago in international competition. His most recent domestic meets were dominant performances. In July, he won all six of his events at the Trinidad and Tobago Short Course Meters National Age Group Championships. Earlier in February, he swept all five of his events at the nation's Long Course Meters National Age Group Championships.
His standout international performance came at the XXXIX CARIFTA Aquatic Championships last April. There, he won the gold medal in the 50-meter butterfly. He also earned a silver medal in the 50-meter freestyle. Mills placed fifth in the 100-meter butterfly and sixth in the 100-meter backstroke at that meet. In 2024, he recorded five top-12 finishes at the PanAm Aquatics Age Group Championships.
Best Times and Event Profile
The sprinter's top times shows his speed in freestyle and butterfly events. According to Swimming World Magazine, his current bests are:
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| 50 Free | 20.00 |
| 100 Free | 45.59 |
| 50 Fly | 22.66 |
| 100 Fly | 49.64 |
NC State's Recent Performance
Jaden Mills is committing to a program with a strong recent record. NC State's men's team finished sixth at the 2026 NCAA Championships. The Wolfpack placed third at the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. Mills' verbal gives the program an early foundation for its 2028 recruiting class.
