A History Of U20 Athletes And High Schoolers Turning Pro

Cory Mull


* Noah Lyles turned pro after graduating from T.C. Williams (VA) in 2016

- - - 

On Wednesday, the latest high school talent announced his decision to turn professional in track and field. 

Tampa Hillsborough (FL) High School junior Erriyon Knighton, who set a sophomore national class record in August at the AAU Junior Olympic Games at 200 meters, made the announcement via Track and Field News. 

The decision comes a little under a year since the last prep athlete went pro. Last January, fellow Florida athlete and teenager Tamari Davis signed with adidas. Eleven days previous to her announcement, Florida sprinter and Jamaican international Briana Williams turned pro. 

In recent years, a handful of teenage track and field stars have signed with management companies straight out of high school and their first years of college ... before the ripe age of 20.

Below is a key of the top high school athletes and college freshmen who have turned pro before the age of 20. 

- - - 

Teenagers Who've Turned Pro In HS/First Years Of College

NAMEAGECLASSSCHOOLEVENTMANAGEMENTCOMPANY
Jaylen Slade18High School JuniorIMG Academy (FL)100/200madidas
Hobbs Kessler18High School SeniorAnn Arbor (MI)1,500m/3Kadidas
Erriyon Knighton16High School JuniorTampa Hillsborough (FL)100/200adidas
Tamari Davis16High School JuniorEast Ridge (FL)100/200On Track Managementadidas
Briana Williams17High School SeniorOakland Park Northeast (FL)100/200HSINike
Chloe Cunliffe18GraduateWest Seattle (WA)Pole VaultPaul DoylePuma
Sha'Carri Richardson
19College FreshmanLSU100/200Nike
Mondo Duplantis19College FreshmanLSUPole VaultJRS Sports ManagementPuma
Samantha Watson19College FreshmanTexas A&M800mAdidas
Tia Jones17High School SeniorWheeler (GA)100mHICON
Sydney McLaughlin19College FreshmanKentucky400mHWilliam Morris EndeavorNew Balance
Josh Hoey18GraduateBishop Shanahan (PA)800/1500Global Athletics & MarketingAdidas
Austin Hindman19College FreshmanMissouriTriathlonProject PodiumUSA Triathlon
Donovan Brazier19College FreshmanTexas A&M800mGlobal Athletics & MarketingNike
Andrew Hunter18GraduateLoudoun Valley (VA)DistanceFlynn SportsAdidas
Josephus Lyles18GraduateT.C. Williams (VA)200/400Global Athletics & MarketingAdidas
Noah Lyles19GraduateT.C. Williams (VA)100/200Global Athletics & MarketingAdidas
Khalifa St. Fort18High School SeniorSt. Thomas Aquinas (FL)100/200Flow
Vashti Cunningham
18High School SeniorBishop Gorman (NV)High JumpNike
Kaylin Whitney17High SchoolEast Ridge (FL)Triple JUmpNike
Candace Hill16High School JuniorRockdale County (GA)100/200Global Athletics & MarketingAsics
Alexa Efraimson17High School SeniorCamas (WA)DistanceFlynn SportsNike
Ajee Wilson18GraduateNeptune (NJ)800mFlynn SportsAdidas
Mary Cain17High School SeniorBronxville (NY)Mid-DistanceRicky SimmsNike



PREVIOUS REPORTING ON ANNOUNCEMENTS

NAMEANNOUNCEMENT STORY
Jaylen SladeStory
Hobbs KesslerStory
Erriyon KnightonStory
Tamari DavisStory
Briana WilliamsStory
Chloe CunliffeStory
Sha'Carri RichardsonStory
Mondo DuplantisStory / Film
Samantha WatsonStory
Tia JonesStory
Sydney McLaughlinStory / Film
Josh HoeyStory
Austin HindmanStory
Donovan BrazierStory
Andrew HunterStory
Josephus LylesStory
Noah LylesStory
Khalifa St. FortStory
Vashti CunninghamStory / Film
Kaylin WhitneyStory
Candace HillStory
Alexa EfraimsonStory / Film Ep. 1 / Film Ep. 2
Ajee WilsonStory
Mary CainStory