The Next Great One: Top 10 Most Hyped Teenage Athletes in History

In this day and age, with athletes being handed million-dollar contracts and endorsements the moment they reach the field, the pressure is immeasurable and sometimes these phenoms can't handle it. 

Whether it be lack of guidance or greed, many star-studded athletes harness their egos rather than their skills, leading to a failed career. Projecting an athlete as a bust is almost impossible. Scouts try every year and most fail. 

Here is a look at 10 of the most anticipated athletes, seen as stars before they reached the professional level. Success or failure at the major league level is not important on this list, but rather how they performed during their teenage years. 

These athletes faced pressure and expectations. Some call it a gift; others say it's a burden. All fans can do is respect their skills. 

10. Michelle Wie: 12-Year-Old Phenom

After qualifying for an LPGA event at age 12, Wie became the most-hyped golfer since Tiger Woods.

She came in fourth in the Kraft Nabisco Championship—a major—at age 14. 

She has yet to develop into anything significant but was yet another overly hyped phenom. 

9. Ronnie Fields: The Better Player on KG's High School Team?

Reported to have a 50-inch vertical leap, Ronnie Fields was a teammate of Kevin Garnett at Farragut Academy in 1995. 

He was a three-time Parade All-American selection from 1994-96 and a consensus First Team All-American his senior year.

He signed a letter of intent with DePaul University and was later ruled academically ineligible. 

He broke his neck in a car accident in 1996. He was never the same.

8. Super Mario...Lemieux

Drafted first overall in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Lemieux was expected to save the Penguins franchise from moving away from Pittsburgh. 

At 15 years old, he broke Pierre Larouche's single-season points mark of 251 with 282 in 1984 with the Laval Voisins of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. 

He scored on the first shift of his NHL career and the rest is in the record books. 

7. Iron Mike Tyson

The youngest to win the WBC (age 20), Mike Tyson has been known throughout his career for how hard he hits and the speed with which he throws his punches. 

He has been known to be dirty and gained much fame for biting Evander Holyfield's ear. 

Many consider him the most feared man ever in the ring. 

6. Kobe Bean Bryant

Every fan in the sports world knows how this story ended. 

They may forget, however, that Kobe Bryant was once seen as the next MJ before he reached the pros.

Bryant had a spectacular senior year and was named Naismith High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Men's National Basketball Player of the Year, a McDonald's All-American and a USA Today All-USA First Team Player.

The rest is history.  

5. Sid The Kid

Called the next best player since Mario Lemieux by the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby was interviewed for the first time at age seven and was flooded with fame as a youth.

Asked if anyone could break his scoring records, Gretzky said Crosby could. 

He was drafted first overall in the 2005 Draft, following the lockout. 

He was expected to save the Penguins' franchise, just as Lemieux had been 21 years earlier. 

4. Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper might have been the most advertised baseball player in history. He was seen as the first pick in the first draft he would be eligible for. 

The first pick by the Washington Nationals in the 2010 MLB Draft, Harper was dominant during his time at junior college.

As a 16-year-old, Harper enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada. He hit 31 home runs, had 98 runs batted in and hit .443 in 66 games. 

He is now marinating in the Nationals minor league system, getting more ready by the second for his much-anticipated major league debut. 

He also was recorded hitting a 570-foot home run. 

3. Tiger Woods

On "The Mike Douglas Show" at age two, Tiger Woods reportedly shot a 48 on a nine-hole course at age three and was in Golf Digest at age four. 

He is the youngest to win the U.S. Amateur at the age of 20. 

Being on television at age two is enough to garner the prodigy on this list. 

2. The Great One: Wayne Gretzky

Scoring 378 goals in a single season during his pre-teen years, Wayne Gretzky was the most hyped hockey player ever. 

Seen as the next great savior, he was garnering attention and hogging the spotlight at six years old, while dominating 10-year-olds. 

His career has been record-breaking, as hockey fans are fully aware of.

Arguably the best NHL player ever, he is the Michael Jordan of hockey. 

1. Lebron James, Before The Decision

The most anticipated high school basketball player ever, James dominated during his teen years. 

While this is a highlight reel of his dunk contest rather than his play on the court, he was hitting the rim with as much gusto during games as he did during this skill competition. 

Clearly he has reached stardom at the NBA level, as he is already seen as one of the best in the game—if not one of the best ever. 

James had more pressure on him coming out of high school than Barack Obama did when he was elected into office. 

He is now seen as an NBA villain after his decision last summer.