Best Newcomers of the Year

Sports fans are familiar with athletes like LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo, coaches like Bill Belichick and Gregg Popovich and announcers like Gus Johnson and Chris Berman, but, each year, a few newcomers break onto the scene and show that they have some skills, too.

And 2014 was no different.

While we all adore the people listed above, a new breed is always good to keep things fresh.

That's why I'm giving you a few of the best newcomers that have become household names this year, proving that they have what it takes to stay around the sports scene for years to come.

Bruce Arians (Arizona Cardinals)

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Is this one a cop-out? Quite possibly—seeing how current Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians did win Coach of the Year honors in 2012 with the Indianapolis Colts while filling in for a sick Chuck Pagano.

Still, it wasn't until Arians' first season in Arizona last year that he truly had full control of a team.

For that reason, I think Arians should be considered a newcomer on the head coaching scene, showing an ability that should have been recognized a long time ago for a leading gig.

In his two seasons in the desert, Arians has compiled a 20-9 record, thus far, with his Cardinals currently sitting atop the standings in the NFC.

It might have taken the guy a long time to earn a top spot on the sideline after a long coaching career, but he's making the most of the opportunity now.

Katie Nolan (Fox Sports)

Katie Nolan may have been known about for about a year now, but, it wasn't until the past 12 months that she really got more mainstream.

In addition to her role on Fox Sports 1's series, Crowd Goes Wild, Nolan had a well-received rant about the whole Ray Rice domestic violence situation, earning her high praise from both colleagues and peers.

And when she's not talking the cold, hard truth that runs in her mind, Nolan is doing things like trying to upstage pro athletes by chugging more beers than they can during a playoff celebration.

If you don't know Katie Nolan by now, you're not only missing out, but you best get on the train, because she's hilarious.

Adam Silver (NBA Commissioner)

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After 30 years of running the NBA, former league commissioner David Stern handed over the reins to his former Deputy Commish, Adam Silver, with the latter taking over in February of this year—and all signs point to it being a positive move.

Although he has suggested a few things that might not be accepted by fans—like sponsorships on uniforms—Silver has done admirably in leading the league into the future.

Handling the Donald Sterling as swiftly and smoothly as possible proved that the guy knows what he's doing, and his knowledge and support of NBA players who are wearing shirts to honor Eric Garner is just one way that he has put his own touch on the league. 

There will be bumps along the way, but Silver seems to have put his own, persona staple on the league thus far, and should be welcomed with open arms.

Corey Kluber (Cleveland Indians)

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Like a few others on this list, Cleveland Indians hurler Corey Kluber might not have been a complete unknown entering 2014, but there are few people out there who would have mentioned him as the nastiest right-hander on the planet.

Beating out Felix Hernandex for the AL Cy Young Award this season, the 28-year-old Kluber might have been a late bloomer, but, for the Tribe, it was well worth the wait.

Finishing the year with an AL-leading 18 wins, including a 9-3 mark with a 1.73 ERA following the All-Star break, Kluber established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game.

That's something no one would have said as the calendar turned last year.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

After the Milwaukee Bucks won just 15 games last season, there were few basketball fans who thought the team had any talent on the roster.

Let's not all be so naive, though.

That's because the Bucks, in fact, had a guy who is one of the most exciting young players in the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo, AKA The Greek Freak.

Drafted No. 15 overall by Milwaukee in the 2013 NBA draft, Antetokounmpo has impressed with his all-around game, making the team believe that they have two, future superstars on the roster, pairing Giannis with rookie Jabari Parker.

Making a name for himself with a variety of jaw-dropping plays that the Internet seems to fall in love with each day, Antetokounmpo is exciting, young and on pace to become your new favorite player that few people seem to talk about—so jump on the bandwagon before everyone else does.

Pedro Morales (Vancouver Whitecaps)

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The best thing about 2014? Well, it was a World Cup year, meaning we got to see a lot of soccer in all different forms.

Whether that was on the international or the club level, one kid who we were introduced to was Chilean and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Morales.

Playing for his national team since 2008, the 29-year-old enjoyed his first season in the MLS this year, netting 10 goals in 30 appearances for the Whitecaps, helping his club reach the playoffs while earning the Newcomer of the Year Award.

He may be a bit older than past winners, but he has proven to have skills that should be admired.

The Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards

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For all the talk about the super teams and Big Three's that are trending everywhere around the NBA, two Eastern Conference teams seem to doing things a bit organically by either drafting or by trading for young guys and developing them.

That's the formula that both the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards have shown this year, helping both franchises break into the conversation as serious contenders in the wide-open East.

With Washington having young stars John Wall and Bradley Beal and Toronto building around Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, both franchises have introduced themselves to other teams who are sitting around the table with title aspirations.

Sure, they might, allegedly, be less talented and inexperienced, but the Wiz and the Raptors aren't afraid of anyone, and are two teams worth keeping an eye on as the season continues.

Billy Hamilton (Cincinnati Reds)

There's fast, and then there's Billy Hamilton fast.

One of the most exciting (and rare) players in sports, the Cincinnati Reds outfielder made his much-anticipated debut in 2014, bringing a new energy to the game of baseball.

With blazing speed that helped him snag 56 bases, Hamilton may have only batted .250 in his first season in the bigs, but he showed signs of a player who will help the Reds get a lot of runs that they might otherwise not without the quickness he has on the base paths.

Tony Bennett (Virginia Cavaliers Men's Basketball)

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OK, so Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball head coach Tony Bennett might not technically be a newcomer in the sense of the word—after all, he did win AP Men's Coach of the Year in 2007 while with Washington State—but seeing how he has progressed the Cavaliers program to great heights since taking over in 2009, I think he deserves shout-out here.

Guiding UVA to their second-ever outright ACC regular season and ACC tournament titles, Bennett led his team to a No. 1-seed in the NCAA tourney, too, proving that the conference is more than just Duke and North Carolina.

While his team lost in the Sweet Sixteen to a talented Michigan State Spartans team, Bennett showed that he continues to be a rising star, finishing as a finalist and runner-up in two of the Coach of the Year honors.

Le'Veon Bell (Pittsburgh Steelers)

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A second-year player, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell has enjoyed a breakout season thus far in 2014, rushing for an AFC-best 1,231 yards.

Bell's performance probably isn't too unexpected—after all, he was a second-round pick in 2013—it's the first time that he has been the featured back in the NFL, showing that he has size and ability to handle the heavy load.

And with his Steelers in the hunt for a playoff spot, the team will probably ride Bell as much as he's willing to carry them—which is good news for all those fantasy football owners who snagged this guy early seeing the potential of his breaking out party.

Kaylee Hartung (ESPN)

While Kaylee Hartung has been on the airwaves for a couple years, for some odd reason, ESPN limited her to just the Longhorn Network in Austin.

Thankfully, that all changed in 2014, as the network put the girl front and center as the SEC Network launched this fall, allowing her to display her insane sports knowledge to college football fans everywhere.

Contributing to college hoops and college baseball, Hartung might just become the nation's newest crush—assuming she isn't already.

Ayumu Hirano (Snowboarding)

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Just turning 16 years old last month, Japanese snowboarder Ayumu Hirano is one of the youngest (and brightest) stars in his snowboarding.

While Ayumu has been known for a year or so by action sports enthusiasts since 2013, the world found out first-hand how talented he was during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, where he earned himself a silver medal in the Halfpipe event.

Standing just 5'3", the pint-sized Hirano might not me a intimidating presence when he walks into a room, but when clipped into his board, he's about as scary, and filthy, as they come, proving that he has the ability to overtake Shaun White's reign as the biggest star on the pipe.

Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)

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The No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 NHL draft, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon showed that he had the necessary skills to be the next great player in the league.

Earning top rookie honors after netting 24 goals and assisting on 39 others, MacKinnon broke a 34-year-long streak that some guy named Wayne Gretzky once held, putting him in company that few others ever get to enjoy.

Still just 19 years old, the youngster will be someone who hockey fans should really pay attention to, because, after introducing himself to the league last season, he is a force to be reckoned with.

Bryan Harsin (Boise State Broncos Football)

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Another college football season, another major bowl for the Boise State Broncos.

Ho-hum, if you ask the team's first-year head coach Bryan Harsin.

Following a 7-5 run during his lone year at Arkansas State in 2013, Harsin overtook one of the most consistent teams in the country, replacing outgoing coach Chris Petersen who left to take the helm for the Washington Huskies.

All Harsin did was maintain the excellence that Boise State has shown over the past decade, leading the Broncos to a 10-2 record and Mountain West title, earning a spot in the Fiesta Bowl.

Still just 38 years old, Boise State is happy to have one of the brightest, young minds in the game on their sideline.

Julian Green (US. Men's National Soccer)

Thanks to the team's strong showing in last summer's World Cup in Brazil, the U.S. men's national soccer team has plenty of young talent that many hope to be the next rising star in the sport—and none is bigger than Julian Green.

While U.S. teammates DeAndre Yedlin and Fabian Johnson may have earned more playing time during the tournament, it was the 19-year-old Green who left an impression on millions, scoring a goal that was both impressive and well-timed, helping close the red, white and blue's gap to Belgium—though they eventually lost.

With Green playing for esteemed European club Bayern Munich, there's little doubt that he has the skills to take over the void left by recently retired Landon Donovan for years to come.

Jose Abreu (Chicago White Sox)

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While the Chicago White Sox seem to be making some serious moves so far this offseason, the one player on their roster who should be talked about the most might be first baseman Jose Abreu.

Following a successful career in Cuba for a few years, Abreu made the leap to the big leagues in 2014, where he made an instant impact.

Although the White Sox didn't contend for much of the season, the talented 27-year-old cranked 36 homers and drove in 107, all while batting .317, helping him win the AL Rookie of the Year.

An All-Star last season, the South Side slugger is a player worth keeping an eye on as his career progresses.

Blake Sims (Alabama Crimson Tide)

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It might be time to face the reality, college football fans—the Alabama Crimson Tide know how to develop quarterbacks.

If there was any doubt before this season, the evolution of first-year starter Blake Sims silenced that, as he led the Tide to a 12-1 record and top-seed in the college football playoff this year.

Passing for a Bama, single-season record 3,250 yards with 26 touchdowns and just seven picks, Sims proves that they might know a thing or two about evaluating signal-callers in Tuscaloosa.

With the team in position to contend for another national title, it's all thanks to Sims' breakout season.

Allie LaForce (CBS)

Much like the aforementioned Kaylee Hartung at ESPN, CBS allowed college sports fans the opportunity to meet their newest sideline reporter—Allie LaForce.

And from the bottom of our hearts, we all say thank you.

A former Miss Teen USA, LaForce played college hoops while attending Ohio University, proving that she is a serious jack of all trades.

After working for local media following graduation from OU for a few years, it was announced that Allie would be the newest reporter between the hedges of the SEC on CBS in 2014, replacing Tracy Wolfson.

As if we all needed another reason to watch the greatest conference in the nation play each Saturday, there was LaForce as an added treat.

Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors)

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There were plenty of question marks surrounding the hiring of former NBA player Steve Kerr as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

Following a successful run with incumbent coach Mark Jackson—who led the team to back-to-back playoff appearances and and average of 49 wins in those seasons—many wondered why Jackson was let go to begin with.

And when the team brought in Kerr, who had no prior head coaching experience, many were unsure how the team would respond.

With a background with two of the best coaches ever, Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich, Kerr has changed the entire culture in Golden State, turning Stephen Curry into a flat-out superstar and taking his team to an unprecedented start atop the Western Conference.

It's still early, but Kerr appears to have the moxy to be a leader from the bench, making him a newcomer worth keeping an eye on as the NBA season continues.

Masahiro Tanaka (New York Yankees)

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One of the most anticipated transplants from the Japan League to the MLB, New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka didn't wilt under the pressure of the high expectations placed on him.

In fact, the only thing disappointing with Tanaka's rookie campaign in the bigs is that it was cut short due to injury.

Still, even after starting just 20 games, the lethal right-hander compiled a 13-5 record, which included a record of 8-1 with a 2.07 ERA after his first two months.

Finishing his season with three complete games and one shutout, Tanaka might be making a hell of a lot of money, but, at least for now, seems to be worth every penny for the Yanks.

Odell Beckham Jr. (New York Giants)

After missing most of training camp, the preseason and then the first four games of his NFL career, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. sure came on strong to leave an impression, didn't he?

Setting, and breaking, his own NFL records, the first-year player from LSU has done it all, catching the simplest of passes from whomever is throwing him the ball, to making the impossible look, well, possible.

With his catch against the Dallas Cowboys earlier this year becoming an Internet meme and regarded as one of the best grabs in NFL history, Beckham Jr. has earned his place among the game's elite after just nine career games.

Who knows how things will end up for him, but he's off to a good start.

Kevin Ollie (Connecticut Huskies Men's Basketball)

Named the head coach of the UConn Huskies men's hoops team prior to the 2012 season, there were certainly no guarantees for Kevin Ollie.

Replacing longtime coach Jim Calhoun—who won three national titles in Storrs—Ollie was hired with a seven-month contract from the school, making him earn the high-profile position.

After leading his Huskies to a 20-10 record in his first season, Ollie enjoyed a breakout 2013-14 year, guiding the team to a national championship less than 18 months on the job.

While the school may have, unintentionally, set him up to fail, Ollie overcame the odds to become a national champion head coach, and is now considered to be one of the great, young coaches in the game.

J.T. Barrett (Ohio State Buckeyes)

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As an Ohio State fan, I must say that I think it's a little bit blasphemous that redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett wasn't invited to New York as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Sure, the kid wouldn't have won it—especially after the injury he sustained against rival Michigan—but no one can deny that he wasn't arguably more valuable to his Buckeyes team than any other player in the country.

Filling in for another Heisman candidate, Braxton Miller, Barrett flourished after a slow start that included a home loss to Virginia Tech.

In the 12 games he played, the kid accounted for 45 touchdowns—a Big Ten record—throwing just 10 interceptions and leading Ohio State into the college football playoffs.

There's a conundrum next season for Ohio State with whom will start under center—a healthy Miller or a recovered Barrett—but that's a problem head coach Urban Meyer will happily take with these two talented passers.

Rich Paul (Sports Agent)

Prior to 2014, there weren't too many people who had heard of 32-year-old sports agent Rich Paul.

Sure, his name was associated with the king of basketball, LeBron James, serving as his agent for a couple years, but it wasn't until this summer that Paul showed just how much influence he has on the sport.

As the main influencer in getting James to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer, Paul played an integral role in changing the landscape of the entire league with just one move.

In addition to the James strategy, the agent also played hardball with the Phoenix Suns for another agent of his, Eric Bledsoe. With the Suns balking on upping a deal to the young star, Paul insisted Bledsoe play the waiting game—going against the grain within inner circles.

The bold move paid-off, though, as the Suns upped their offer for five years and $70 million.

He might do things his own way, but Paul has proven to be quite the negotiator and keen businessman, paving a path towards potential stardom.

Jahlil Okafor (Duke Blue Devils)

2013 was the year of the athletic wing players like Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.

But 2014? Well, the Duke Blue Devils' Jahlil Okafor has proven that big man deserve some love, too.

Built in the same mold as Tim Duncan—whom the frosh sensation is being compared to—the talented Okafor has proven why he was the top recruit in last year's class, leading the Dukies in points and sitting second on the team in rebounds, while the Blue Devils sit at No. 2 in the national rankings.

The kid is expected to be the next, great one-and-done from college hoops, so take notice while you can, because he's expected to be going up against the big boys in late-2015.