JAYDON Hibbert’s NCAA career at University of Arkansas lasted all of one season, after he announced via social media on Thursday that he is entering the professional ranks.

While the announcement came as a surprise to many, for some it was just a matter of time as in just 13 jumps — at seven meets between the indoor and outdoor season — Hibbert, who turned 19 earlier this month, rewrote the record books at Arkansas and the NCAA.

He paid tribute to the university.

“University of Arkansas, you have been more than just a school to me; you’ve been a family. To all my coaches, teammates, and professors, you’ve shaped me into the athlete and person I am today,” he said in a social media post.

“You’ve instilled in me the Razorback spirit which I’ll carry with me on my professional journey,” Hibbert added.

He is expected to sign with German sporting gear giant Puma — with which he had inked a name, image and likeness (NIL) contract last year — and will remain in Fayetteville with Coach Travis Geopfert, a release from the school said on Friday.

Hibbert ended the 2023 season as the world leader in both the indoors (17.54m) and outdoors (17.87m 1.3m/s), the latter establishing the World Under-20 record. He won all his NCAA events, including the South-Eastern Conference (SEC) and NCAA titles.

Hibbert has already qualified for the Paris Olympic Games set for later this year and has thus become the fifth Jamaican man to qualify for an Olympic triple jump, joining the pair of Razorback athletes in Carey McLeod (2021, Tokyo) and Clive Pullen (2016, Rio de Janeiro), along with Lennox Burgher (1968, Mexico City) and Henry Jackson (1972, Munich).

Hibbert, considered a once-in-a-generation talent, also left Kingston College with two seasons of Boys’ Championships eligibility remaining.

Despite his short stay in the NCAA he was immensely impactful, leaving a legacy that includes being the youngest male winner of the Bowerman Award — given to the most outstanding athlete in United States college track and field.

Arkansas Men’s Head Coach Chris Bucknam is supportive of Hibbert’s move.

“We’re so proud of Jaydon and all that he’s accomplished here as a Razorback in such a short period of time. Just really, really happy that he’s able to take this next step and go to the next level,” he was quoted in a release as saying.

“It’s just really a sense of satisfaction and pride for somebody that young to go on to the next level — it’s pretty unique. We wish him nothing but the best,” the release added.

Geopfert, who also recruited fellow Kingston College jumper Carey McLeod and Wayne Pinnock, said the future looks bright.

“I’m really excited for the work he’s put in already this year and how that’s going to pay off in this coming year.

“We’re going to focus on the outdoor season and training is going extremely well. I’m really happy for him. He’s a lot stronger, getting faster, and working on some technical things he can still clean up, despite all that success. There is always room for improvement,” he said in a statement.

“To break the indoor and outdoor collegiate records, obviously with the Arkansas school record, his stamp on the history of NCAA track and field is already there in a very short period of time. We are going to forever celebrate his achievements. His name is in the history books forever and I’m excited for his name to be in the history books on the world stage as well,” Geopfert stated.

Hibbert, who is eligible to defend his World Under-20 title this year, made a massive mark at Arkansas, breaking NCAA records that were four decades old.

He broke the 17.40m Arkansas school indoor record that was set by Razorback legend Mike Conley, then surpassed it with 17.54m at the NCAA Indoor Championships at altitude in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on his only attempt.

He set the NCAA outdoors record 17.57m set in 1982 by Southern Methodist University’s Keith Connor on his second attempt with 17.57m, which also broke the Arkansas record 17.54m set by Conley in 1985.

The 17.54m indoor effort is also the Jamaican national record, surpassing the 17.30m set by James Beckford in March 1995.

Hibbert had seven attempts in three indoor meets last year, winning the SEC title with 17.10m in three tries and then taking the NCAA title with just two jumps.

Competing outdoors, he had one jump at the LSU Invitational (17.17m), two at the SEC championships (17.87m), one at the West Regionals (16.81m), and two more at the NCAA Nationals (17.56m).

In his first foray into international competition he was second at the Meeting Herculis in Monaco, and after qualifying for the final at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, with 17.70m he picked up an injury on his first attempt in the final.