Before participating in last week’s NCAA National Tournament, Jameel Abdul-Mateen changed his season by getting a little more confidence in his game.

He should have plenty of confidence for his junior season at Clemson University in 2014 after finishing as the 11th best collegiate long jumper in the country at the Eugene, Ore., national event.

Abdul-Mateen, competing in his first NCAA Championships, hit a personal best mark on his third jump at a distance of 25 feet, 6 inches. The effort earned the former Alcovy High standout All-American honors in the long jump event.

The jump also provisionally qualified Abdul-Mateen for next week’s USA Outdoor Championships, which also include professionals.

Abdul-Mateen reached the NCAA semifinals after finishing in the top 16 during the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Greensboro, N.C., May 30.

While at Alcovy, Abdul-Mateen was Region 3-AAAA champion in the 100, long jump and triple jump in 2011, repeating the feat in the long jump and triple jump from 2010.

He was also a 2010 New Balance Indoor All-American in the triple jump in 2010 and a ninth-place finisher in the 2011 New Balance triple jump.