Who's Next: 10 Soon-to-Be Superstars Under 21
Who's got next?
Who is going to step up and become the next superstar athlete?
The question is simple, yet the answers are complex. Naturally, if you're under the age of 21, development is the most important part of your sports existence.
Certain athletes are born megastars. You can tell by the way they swing a bat or take a jump shot. Others need the timing and situation to be just right in order to thrive.
Understanding all of those fluid mechanisms needed to reach superstardom, we've done our homework and came up with 10 names. These 10 individuals are athletes we've deemed to be superstars so long as they put in the right amount of hard work.
The common thread here is that all of these guys are under the age of 21. Knowing that, let's start the slideshow and find out who made the list.
Carlos Correa
1 of 10
Baseball's youth movement is exciting right now. It's as thrilling as the New World Order getting together.
With so many superstars under the age of 25, the game is set up for a tremendous decade of competition and production. When we focus the lens in a little bit tighter—under 21 years old to be specific—Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa pops out as the leader of the new school.
In 37 games this season, Correa has eight home runs, 25 RBI and a .289 average. He's also complied 44 hits in that same period of time.
There aren't many at that age who can swing a bat like the young Astros shortstop can. He has a natural, fluid swing that allows the ball to leap off his bat.
What's so crazy about Correa is that he's only 20 years old. Processing that he will mature, get stronger and most likely get a lot better is crazy. The Astros have a star in this kid. Check back in a few years and you'll see exactly what he's made of.
Joey Bosa
2 of 10
One of the hardest sports to gauge superstar talent is football. The pool of players selected out of college each year runs deep, which shakes up the odds like James Bond's martini.
Sometimes, projecting talent actually works out as planned—see Andrew Luck as an example. Coming off a national championship victory, Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa could be one of the NFL's next great playmakers.
At the age of 20—and still in school—he has already been compared to another former elite edge-rusher named Patrick Kearney, per Albert Breer of NFL.com. Bosa shows great instincts, which helped him tack on 13.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss last season.
Bosa is going to have to prove himself once again in 2015. He has to show NFL scouts that his trajectory is still worthy of being a top-five pick.
Nathan MacKinnon
3 of 10
How does a former NHL Calder Memorial Trophy winner—hockey's version of rookie of the year—end up on this list?
Because Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon hasn't reached his full potential yet. After scoring 63 points his debut season, he missed 18 games because of a foot injury and didn't play at the same level we got accustomed to seeing in 2014-15.
That doesn't mean you should automatically count out the 19-year-old. He has shown way too much promise to be written off after a tough season. We've seen him score goals and create plays on the ice—a combo that should carry the Avalanche into the future.
Young talent thrives in the NHL, and MacKinnon is one of the best at his position. With his health back, we should see a kid who is two years away from the legal drinking age turn into a formidable talent for the next decade-and-a-half.
D'Angelo Russell
4 of 10
D'Angelo Russell may seem like a bit of a controversial pick considering he struggled during the NBA Summer League with turnovers and finding his shot. He coughed up the ball on 27.4 percent of his possessions, according to Synergy Sports.
But those who watched the 19-year-old guard operate at Ohio State understand his true potential. In a Buckeyes uniform, he posted 19.3 points, 5.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game as a freshman.
Besides his impactful numbers, Russell also happens to be one of the most confident players around. He oozed that confidence during his introductory presser with the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this summer.
He has a mesmerizing skill set that should yield him superstar-worthy results down the line. He can shoot, attack the basket and create chances for those around him.
The simple fact that he'll enter into a lineup with Kobe Bryant and Julius Randle bodes well for his future. It means that Russell will have weapons to grow around that will further enhance his game.
Let's put his summer-league struggles aside. With time and great coaching, there's little reason to doubt Russell's trajectory. He's way too dynamic to wash out of the league.
Robert Nkemdiche
5 of 10
Ole Miss pass-rusher Robert Nkemdiche is stirring a scalding hot pot of potential right now with his freakish athletic ability and size.
That 6'5", 293-pounder is exactly what NFL teams look for in a dynamic edge talent. Even though he's only produced four sacks in two seasons, the raw potential and disruptive tendencies are what make you feel like he's going to be a star at the next stage of his career.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller summed up the Ole Miss defensive stalwart in his early 2016 NFL mock draft: "Nkemdiche is big enough to play head-up on the tackle, but athletic enough to be moved around in different defensive fronts. He's also able to play as a pass-rushing three-technique or even outside on the edge as a true defensive end."
Immense swaths of versatility and explosion help the 20-year-old carry a real superstar vibe with him anywhere he goes.
Karl-Anthony Towns
6 of 10
The Minnesota Timberwolves No. 1 overall pick, Karl-Anthony Towns, has all of the tools you'd want in a big man.
He's a productive offensive scorer, though he isn't outstanding in that department yet. But that's fine. Watching him operate in the low post, you can see he has quality footwork and a knack for drawing contact.
Defense is the name of the game when it comes to Anthony-Towns. The man is a shot-blocker. In 21.1 minutes per game at Kentucky last season, he blocked an average of 2.3 shots.
He's relentless in that aspect, and that's what the Timberwolves need.
At 19 years old, he still has a ton of growing up to do. His body type should mature with time, and his skills should improve.
Nothing is a guarantee in basketball, but if you had to pick one superstar out of the 2015 class, Towns would be it. He has so much upside on film that it's actually alarming.
Ezekiel Elliott
7 of 10
The triumphant return we saw of running backs being taken in the first round of the 2015 draft signals that the position that everyone undervalued may actually be making a comeback.
Ezekiel Elliott of Ohio State fame could be the first running back taken off the board in the 2016 draft. The legend of Elliott was born during the College Football Playoff. Coming through the line of scrimmage like a freight train, he churned out 476 yards and six touchdowns in two games.
Those are crazy Madden 16 numbers from a guy who weighs 225 pounds.
Translating his level of skill to the NFL isn't difficult. The 20-year-old is going to wind up becoming the bell cow for some lucky NFL franchise. He's too good of a runner not to be an instant star at the next level.
Andrew Wiggins
8 of 10
The Cleveland Cavaliers shipped Andrew Wiggins off for Kevin Love in a deal that will be analyzed for years to come.
Love, the more established player, was a big haul for the Cavs. Pairing him with Kyrie Irving and LeBron James was supposed to bring Cleveland a championship. It didn't happen this past season, but that doesn't mean it won't.
Wiggins, on the other hand, was a hyper-raw talent from Kansas who flashed enough ability to warrant being selected No. 1 overall.
After being sent to Minnesota, Wiggins went on to average 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. His player efficiency rating of 13.9 wasn't sparkling, per Basketball-Reference.com, but the young Canadian forward did enough to put people on notice.
All signs point to Wiggins being a megastar. He's 20 years old and the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, and already his game is developing at a frantic pace.
Roberto Osuna
9 of 10
You don't always see MLB relievers get thrown into a discussion about superstardom. Robert Osuna of the Toronto Blue Jays could change all of that.
The 20-year-old is a paramount force on his team's pitching staff. He has the body, pitch arsenal and accuracy to be a starter, yet his best work has come by way of the bullpen.
Osuna's 2.28 ERA and 50 strikeouts are the most glamorous entries on his current resume. In limited fashion as a closer, he's also picked up four saves.
Moving Osuna around will determine where his best fit is. He could easily transform into a dominant closer or a productive starter. Either way, he has all of the tools you'd want in a young, superstar-bound arm.
Jahlil Okafor
10 of 10
Jahlil Okafor has a chance to become the centerpiece of the Philadelphia 76ers' massive rebuilding project. He has an extensive, NBA-ready arsenal of offensive moves that make him an instant fit in this league.
Flaws being flaws, Okafor didn't come out of Duke unscathed. His defensive rebounding might be an issue early on his pro career. Still, that offensive game is so strong. It's hard to picture him not developing into something great.
D.J. Foster of ESPN.com notes that Okafor already reminds him of Al Jefferson. "When Okafor palms the ball with his giant mitts and surveys the defense in Jefferson’s old No. 8, it’s hard to shake the parallels," Foster writes.
That's a ringing endorsement for the 19-year-old Sixers big. He will have to get better on the defensive end and shore up his rebounding, but if he does all of that over the next few seasons, Okafor is going to be a part of something special.
All stats and information provided by Sports-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.
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