By Lynn Schofer

The first year for Jazonte Levan at the University of Southern California (USC) was one of adaptation, growth, success, and maturity. The former Delaware 100 meter and 200 meter state champion from Seaford will now move to Louisiana State University (LSU) to continue both his academic and track career. He said the move will allow him to be closer to home as well as be part of a larger program.

“After the sprint coach at USC moved up, he and I had a discussion and I felt I needed to go to another school which is larger and where I know I can develop,” Levan said.

Levan said LSU is close but far enough away to stay focused on his future. “They matched the scholarship and it is a great academic university,” he said. He studies sport kinesiology.

Seaford graduate Jazonte Levan transferred to LSU to continue his academic and track career

In his freshman year at USC, Levan ran a 10.45 in the 100 meter dash and a 20.51 in the 200 meter. “I ran a personal best in both events but did not feel like I was really locked in the first year,” he said.

College transition took time and once Levan focused and adjusted, his grades improved. He woke up early and went to the athlete’s cafeteria before three classes and got tutoring before attending track practice and weight lifting.

Levan keeps his workouts strong in the off-season to prepare to move to LSU. “I feel like the biggest problem my freshman year was not fully committed. This year I want to go in with a clean body, healthy eating, committed to working out. It is about the bigger picture,” he said. He aspires to go to Nationals in both indoor and outdoor, as well as being All SEC and All-American.

Levan was asked to share advice to younger athletes who aspire for collegiate sports, “At any level you have to been in a good mindset. Professors do their job, if you don’t do yours, you are gone. I was blessed with good professors at USC who took the time to sit down with me.”

Levan is entitled to NIL money. “It takes the worry away and a lot off your shoulders,” he said. He also appreciates the support of his Seaford “families” that pushed and supported him throughout his school years and said it was a life lesson to know who comes around to lift up and who is there to benefit themselves. Levan said to young athletes, “Get connections with people from school, talk to them, and develop positive relationships with other athletes.”

“College coaches speak to other athletes about someone they may recruit. Know every choice you make will go into their college report on you. It can be a long, hard process and just keep a small circle,” Levan said. “I started to pull away and focus on sports my sophomore year and avoided hanging out and doing things you are not supposed to be doing.The only name they are going to hear, if you get into trouble, is the athlete getting recruited. You must be yourself first and at the end of the day, you’ve got to focus on your own career or future before you focus on a friendship. A real friend would not let you go somewhere that you’re not supposed to go.”

Levan, as a sophomore, will compete against some of the best runners in the world. “I am going to focus on each season, my education, and goals,” he said.

Levan will have some strong competition including First Team All-American teammate Jaiden Reid with a 10.02 100 meter time. Levan, as a freshman finished 15th in the NCAA West First Round and was also a Big 10 Outdoor Championship finalist in the 200m.

The LSU track program has been led by head coach Dennis Shaver for the last 21 years. To follow Jazonte at LSU go to LSUsports.net.