The NCAA was supposed to be Jayden DeLeon’s next stop after high school. He had already signed with LSU earlier this year. Then an extraordinary summer changed the direction of his career. Two World U20 gold medals later, DeLeon has chosen professional track instead.
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The decision puts his Olympic ambitions ahead of college competition. For the young American, Los Angeles now sits firmly on the horizon.
“World U20 Champion Jayden DeLeon 🇺🇸 has decided to skip the NCAA and turn professional!” the Track & Field Gazette posted on X. “DeLeon was announced as an LSU signing in March and has since gone on to win 2 GOLD medals at the World U20 Championships in the 400m and 4x400m.”
His rise has been remarkably quick, especially across the 400 meters. In June, he produced a personal best of 44.52 seconds. While taking this step at 18 is certainly interesting, there have also been other athletes who chose to go pro.
That performance made him America’s second-fastest high school 400m runner. Only Quincy Wilson had previously gone faster at that level. DeLeon then arrived at the World U20 Championships with momentum. What followed gave him another reason to consider turning professional.
He won the 400-meter title in 44.47 seconds, setting a championship record. Two days later, another gold medal came through the relay. DeLeon anchored America’s 4x400m team to a 3:01.39 victory.
Those performances changed what could come next for him. He now joins a small group of teenage track stars who chose professionalism early. Their careers offer a glimpse at the path DeLeon has now taken.
DeLeon Joins A Growing List Of Teenage Track Pros
Several elite track and field athletes have taken professional routes straight from high school. Starting with Noah Lyles, and Josephus Lyles made a similar choice in 2016.
The brothers bypassed their Florida commitments after graduating high school. Both signed directly with Adidas after competing at the World U20 Championships. Their decision helped establish an alternative route for elite teenage sprinters.
Candace Hill also made history with her early professional move. In 2015, she became the first American high school female track athlete to turn professional. Hill signed a 10-year contract with Asics at just 16 years old. She had already set the national high school 100-meter record. Her decision showed how quickly exceptional teenage talent could attract professional backing.
Erriyon Knighton later followed another direct route into professional athletics. In 2021, he bypassed NCAA eligibility and signed with Adidas. He was still a teenager when he made that move. Knighton eventually became one of history’s fastest 200-meter runners.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone followed a slightly different path. She spent one dominant season at Kentucky before turning professional. Her rise showed how quickly a young athlete could transition into global stardom. Her career also demonstrated the opportunities available once athletes enter the professional system.
DeLeon’s closest rival, Quincy Wilson, has chosen another route. Wilson has remained eligible while benefiting from major NIL opportunities. That allows him to develop within the college system while building commercial value. DeLeon’s choice is more direct and permanent. He is giving up NCAA eligibility to pursue professional track full-time.
For DeLeon, the timing could hardly be more significant. His World U20 campaign has already produced two gold medals. Now, professional competition becomes the next test. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics provide the long-term target. His decision means that journey will unfold outside college athletics.