The 15 Youngest Superstars Right Now

There are plenty of athletes who might think that they have talent, but it takes a real special person to take it to the next level and fall into that superstar category.

So what warrants a player to fall into that special level and find him or herself in rare company? Well, simply, a hell of a lot.

It doesn't just mean they put up unreal individual numbers, win awards or are the most popular. Instead, it means they have a certain aura about them, leading their teammates by example and, if in an individual sport like golf or tennis, finding a will to dig deep for a victory.

With so many apparent "next big things," who are the youngest superstars in sports right now? I took a crack at narrowing down the top 15, so see if you agree.

Nathan MacKinnon

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I've mentioned Nathan MacKinnon a few times in previous articles as a budding superstar, and the 19-year-old former No. 1 overall selection hasn't done anything to sway my opinion.

Arguably the next big thing in the NHL, MacKinnon has done pretty damn well for himself in his two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, not only winning the league's top rookie honors in 2014, but also breaking a 34-year-long streak that was once held by a guy nicknamed "The Great One," Wayne Gretzky.

While his 2014-15 season was cut short due to a foot injury, expect MacKinnon to bounce back in a big way next year—which could end up with him being in the league MVP conversation.

Anthony Davis

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NBA pundits debate how the league has changed over the years, seemingly making traditional big men less important than they were 15 years ago. One guy who has proved that they may be right? Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans.

A freak athlete who possesses point guard handling and shooting with a big man's body, "The Brow" blends an unbelievable offensive game with a scary defensive prowess that has him on the verge of superstardom.

Helping his team reach the postseason for the first time in his career, the 22-year-old Davis is going to be a force for the next decade-plus, so fans should be prepared to watch how this guy evolves as he continues to elevate his game.

Caroline Wozniacki

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A former No. 1-ranked player in the world, Caroline Wozniacki has proven that she has that extra gear that wants to be great.

Unlike a few other female tennis players who were hyped as superstars and got distracted away from the court—ahem, Anna Kournikova—the 24-year-old Wozniacki has battled back after a fall from grace to earn the current No. 5 ranking in the world.

Although she has yet to actually win her first career singles Grand Slam title, Caroline Wozniacki has shown that perseverance and grit can take her to where she wants to be—and she has plenty of years left to achieve those accomplishments.

Steven Stamkos

Already accomplishing a ton in his seven NHL seasons, the Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos may be at the culmination of his young career right now, as his team is holding a series advantage in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The former top pick in the 2008 draft, Stamkos has flashed brilliance, at times, showing that he has the goods to be mentioned with the other great players in the league right now following a few individual awards prior to this year's Cup run.

While he has battled a few nagging injuries here and there, when healthy, there might not be a more dangerous weapon than the 25-year-old, so the Lightning are happy they have Stamkos on their side.

Odell Beckham Jr.

After seeing how New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. played during his rookie season of 2014, all 11 teams that passed him up during last year's NFL draft are probably kicking themselves.

That's because Beckham—whose popularity earned him the Madden cover for this upcoming season—went out and won the Offensive Rookie of the Year following a remarkable first season in which he set a number of rookie receiving marks.

His jaw-dropping catch against the Dallas Cowboys on national TV may have gotten Beckham Jr. attention, but it is his play that has made him an superstar.

Bryce Harper

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He was one of the most hyped-up young stars in baseball even before he first broke into the big leagues back in 2012, so Washington Nationals' outfielder Bryce Harper has always been expected to do big things.

As the former No. 1 overall pick, Harper has had good years—making two All-Star Games in his three years—but it hasn't been until this 2015 season that he really seems to be coming into his own.

Leading the league in runs scored and walks, Harper has elevated himself into the MVP discussion while trying to lead his Nats back to the postseason.

Remarkably just 22 years old, the talented Harper is on pace for a huge season this year—which should be the start of plenty of other ones following suit.

James Harden

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What a transformation Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden has undergone since being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012.

After seeing success and winning the league's Sixth Man of the Year Award, Harden has turned into a rising star, becoming one of the best scorers in the NBA and, following his team and individual success this season, a bona fide MVP candidate.

The talent had always been there for the former No. 3 overall pick, but the playing time wasn't—that is, until the Rockets happily traded for him.

At just 25 years old and with a game that continues to evolve, "The Beard" could be doing special things for many, many years.

Jordan Spieth

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After winning the Masters earlier this year, it's hard not to include Jordan Spieth on this list of young superstars.

Just 21 years old, what Spieth accomplished at one of the world's most famous tournaments is matched by only one other golfer in history, Tiger Woods, as he ran away with the event to capture the green jacket by shooting 18 under par.

In addition to becoming the second-youngest player to win at Augusta, Spieth has found himself rise up the world golf rankings too, currently sitting in the No. 2 spot as he gets touted as the next big superstar in golf.

Maya Moore

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From her college days at the University of Connecticut, where she won two national titles, to her days with the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx after being selected No. 1 overall in 2011, all Maya Moore has done is win.

While other rookie athletes might have an adjustment period to gain confidence or get situated to the pro game, Moore proved otherwise, as she has already guided the Lynx to two WNBA titles in her four years in the league, picking up nicely where she left off from her UConn days.

In addition to her team accomplishments, Maya is the reigning league MVP, a three-time All-Star, a former Rookie of the Year and the WNBA Finals MVP in 2013—all of which has been accomplished before she hits 26 years of age.

Neymar

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Even before Brazilian star Neymar moved from club team Santos to Barcelona in 2013, he was being talked about as a once-in-a-decade kind of player.

And whether it has been for his native country or for Barca, the 23-year-old hasn't made people change their minds about how good he can be.

While playing alongside all-world forward Lionel Messi led Neymar to a Champions League title, it's his own set of skills that has some people predicting what types of accolades he might receive for his own play rather than as a sidekick.

Proving how dazzling he was while on the pitch in last year's World Cup in Brazil before a back injury ended his tournament early, Neymar has everything necessary to become the world's most polarizing soccer player—and he has slowly been moving up that list in recent years.

Kyrie Irving

After seeing a lot of changes since he was the first overall selection in the 2011 NBA draft, Cleveland Cavaliers' two-time All-Star Kyrie Irving showed this season that he has the guile to be a worthy sidekick to LeBron James.

Whether he was sinking buckets and putting on a clinic in two 50-point games during the regular season, or gutting it out as the Cavs made their run to the NBA Finals, Kyrie has impressed King James, who has taken him under his wing after some tough love early on in the season.

Still just 23 years old, Irving re-upped with the Cavs last offseason with a five-year extension, meaning Cavs fans will see this guy as he continues to blossom into a full-fledged superstar.

J.J. Watt

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Although he is another player on this list who just falls out of my loosely enforced 25-and-under rule, I didn't want to exclude Houston Texans defender J.J. Watt for fear that he might track me down should he have found out.

I mean, Watt's track record proves he just might have found me.

That's because the former first-rounder has gotten to pretty much any opposing offensive player since coming into the league four years ago, knocking quarterbacks down and making big plays that a guy his size shouldn't be able to make.

At 26 years old, Watt might seem like he has been in the league for years already, but the two-time Defensive Player of the Year has plenty of solid years left—which is bad news for anyone trying to slow him down.

Andrew Luck

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There have been great young quarterbacks in the NFL, and there is Andrew Luck, who has redefined what a face of a franchise is supposed to look like.

With the arm and early passing records of a Dan Marino or Peyton Manning, Luck has also proved to have the leadership skills of a Brett Favre or Tom Brady, leading his Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons in the league.

At just 25 years old, the sky might be the limit for Luck as he begins to get even more comfortable with the pro game and his organization surrounds him with more talent, earning him high praise as, arguably, the best young signal-caller of the past 40 years.

Rory McIlroy

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While I tried to keep the age restriction at 25 years old and younger for all of these athletes, the world's No. 1-ranked men's golfer, Rory McIlroy, gets a pass because he just turned 26 on May 4.

Oh, and he also happens to be pretty damn good.

Already with four major titles on his resume, the Irishman has taken the throne from Tiger Woods as the most feared golfer on the PGA Tour, making opponents weary any time he's in contention on a Sunday in a tournament.

Poised under pressure and blessed with title-winning guts and all of the skill in the world, Rory McIlroy is a flat-out superstar in the sport of golf.

Mike Trout

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Of any player on this list, Los Angeles Angels' outfielder Mike Trout is head and shoulders above the rest in terms of superstardom.

That's because, without much debate, Trout is the best player in his sport, combining every skill necessary that a baseball player could hope for.

In his three seasons in the big leagues, Trout finished second in the AL MVP voting twice before earning his own in 2014 following his "worst" season up to that point.

With comparisons to Mickey Mantle, Trout—who is still just 23 years old—has plenty of baseball left in him to become one of the all-time greats, if not the best ever, should luck and good health not hold him back.