Victor Wembanyama – a 7-foot-3 forward from Le Chesnay, France – is the latest phenom to be subject to the over-the-top draft-day hype – the kind that warrants labels such as "generational prospect" and "can't-miss pick."
Do you believe the hype? That's the question heading into the 2023 NBA Draft, where Wembanyama is expected to be the No. 1 pick. Will Wembanyama live up to those draft expectations? That might take at least a decade to come up with a suitable answer.
In the last 50 years, hype has spread in different ways. From word of mouth and newspapers and magazines to television, social media and streaming, the search continues to evolve. Crowning a phenom, however, has stayed the same.
SN looked at the prospects who generated the most draft-day hype across the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB for the last 50 years. They were "franchise-altering" in the sense that teams might tank, trade or in some cases, try to bend the rules in order to draft these players.
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These are the players that lived up to the high-school hype until draft day. Take, for example, Tim Tebow and Johnny Manziel. They were fantastic college players, but there were enough doubts about their pro potential that they weren't "can't-miss prospects" at the next level. A total of 32 players on this list were No. 1 picks in their respective drafts, and Wembanyama will join that list at the 2023 NBA Draft on June 22.
A six-person panel voted on those top phenoms, and these are the names we came up with. It's a list that features Hall of Famers – both present and future. It's also contains busts, those players who had couldn't fulfill the outlandish expectations.
Here are our 50 most hyped draft prospects of the last 50 years.
50. Randy Moss
Year: 1998 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Moss – a 6-foot-4, 210-pound receiver – scored 54 TDs in two seasons with Marshall and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1997. He compiled a dazzling highlight reel for the Thundering Herd that still goes viral on occasion.
How it turned out: Moss slipped to No. 22 in the NFL Draft because of off-the-field concerns that led to his dismissals at both Notre Dame and Florida State. He responded with an NFL-best 17 TDs in his rookie season with Minnesota. Moss totaled 15,292 yards and 156 TDs as part of a Hall of Fame career, and the "You got Mossed" phenomenon lives on.
Randy Moss - Nomination to College Football Hall of Fame
— Marshall Football (@HerdFB) May 26, 2023
5-26-23
5: Program Record Number of TD receptions vs. Ball State, 1997
26: Number of Receiving TDs in 1997, which set a then-FBS record
🔗: https://t.co/UCjI5EvYpP pic.twitter.com/NC5Jkn0E6B
49. Kobe Bryant
Year: 1996 NBA Draft
Hype factor: Bryant averaged 30.8 points and led Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia to a state championship. He even took pop star Brandy to prom. He was hyped as a potential successor for Michael Jordan.
How it turned out: High school players were still risky, even for a transcendent talent like Bryant. Charlotte drafted Bryant with the No. 13 pick then traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant played 20 seasons with the Lakers and won five NBA championships. Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among nine victims who died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, but their legacy lives on with a new generation of basketball fans.
48. Allen Iverson
Year: 1996 NBA Draft
Hype factor: Remember Sixers president Pat Croce's over-the-top reaction when Philadelphia won the 1996 NBA Draft Lottery? That's because Iverson – a two-sport high school star who an All-American who averaged 25 points as a sophomore point guard with Georgetown – was the no-doubt No. 1 pick.
How it turned out: "The Answer" was true. Iverson - a 6-foot, 165-pound guard – defined the Sixers' revival as a franchise changer and won over Philadelphia with his toughness. The 11-time All-Star won four NBA scoring titles and carried Philadelphia to the 2001 NBA Finals.
SN RUSHMORE: Allen Iverson makes Philadelphia's legendary list
47. Eli Manning
Year: 2004 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Manning followed brother Peyton in the SEC. Eli finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2003 after leading Ole Miss to a 10-3 record. Manning, however, became the story of the draft when rumors circulated he would sit out if drafted No. 1 by the San Diego Chargers.
How it turned out: The Chargers drafted Manning then traded him to the New York Giants, where he played 16 seasons and led New York to a pair of Super Bowl victories. Manning finished his career with 366 TDs and 244 interceptions.
46. Ryan Leaf
Year: 1998 NFL Draft
Hype factor: There was considerable debate whether Leaf or Peyton Manning should be the No. 1 pick. Leaf - a 6-5, 245-pound quarterback with a big arm – led Washington State to the Rose Bowl and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1997. The Chargers took Leaf with the No. 2 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft.
How it turned out: Leaf finished 4-17 as a starter in the NFL through a brief career that stretched into 2001. He struggled with substance abuse off the field. Leaf has been open about those personal battles and is now a successful college football analyst.
45. Josh Hamilton
Year: 1999 MLB Draft
Hype factor: Hamilton emerged as a top prospect at outfield and pitcher for Athens Drive High School in Raleigh, N.C. He hit .529 with 13 homers and 20 stolen bases as a senior. That was more than enough for the Tampa Bay Rays to select Hamilton instead of Josh Beckett with the No. 1 pick.
How it turned out: Hamilton was involved in a car accident in 2001, and he struggled with substance issues that led to season-long suspensions in 2004 and 2006. He made his debut in 2007 with Cincinnati and emerged as a five-time All-Star with the Texas Rangers. The 2008 Home Run Derby was Hamilton's most memorable moment in a nine-year career.
44. Deion Sanders
Year: 1989 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Sanders was a sixth-round pick in the 1985 MLB Draft before attending Florida State, where he starred in football, baseball and track. He had 14 interceptions, three pick sixes and three punt return TDs for the Seminoles. He ran a 4.27 in the 40 at the NFL Combine – and left immediately afterward. That only added to the fascination.
How it turned out: "Prime Time" became a two-sport legend. In 1994, Sanders had six interceptions and three pick sixes for the 49ers and 38 stolen bases between the Braves and Reds. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection won Super Bowls with San Francisco and Dallas. He's back in the spotlight as the football coach at Colorado.
43. Joe Mauer
Year: 2001 MLB Draft
Hype factor: Mauer was the first athlete to win USA Today Player of the Year in football (2000) and baseball (2001). He committed to Florida State while playing quarterback for Cretin-Derham High School in St. Paul, Minn. As a senior, Mauer passed for 41 TDs, averaged 20 points per game in basketball and hit .605 for the baseball team.
How it turned out: The Twins took Mauer with the No. 1 pick, one spot ahead of Mark Prior. The catcher was a six-time All-Star, won the AL MVP in 2009 and three AL batting titles. He was a .306 career lifetime hitter. So, why are we still wondering how he would have been as a quarterback?
42. Todd Van Poppel
Year: 1990 MLB Draft
Hype factor: The hard-throwing right-hander from James W. Martin High School in Arlington, Tex., drew comparisons to Nolan Ryan with his 95 mph fastball and scholarship to Texas in hand ahead of the draft. SI called him "the prize of this year's crop" and Van Poppel reportedly told the Atlanta Braves he would not sign with them if selected with the No. 1 pick.
How it turned out: The Braves took Chipper Jones instead. Van Poppel, who was drafted by the Oakland Athletics, played 11 seasons for six franchises. He finished with a 40-52 record and 5.58 career ERA.
41. Anthony Davis
Year: 2012 NBA Draft
Hype factor: The 6-foot-10 center dominated as a freshman at Kentucky. He averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks. Davis totaled 29 blocks through an NCAA tournament championship run and put the "one-and-done" debate to rest for Wildcats coach John Calipari.
How it turned out: New Orleans selected Davis with the No. 1 pick, where he spent seven seasons before joining the Lakers. He helped Los Angeles to an NBA championship in 2020. Davis has battled injuries throughout his career, but he averages 24 points and 2.3 blocks per game.
40. David Robinson
Year: 1987 NBA Draft
Hype factor: Robinson averaged 21.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.1 blocks at Navy – and the hype around the 7-foot-1 center lasted two years because he chose to fulfill his military obligation for two years before joining San Antonio.
How it turned out: "The Admiral" was worth the wait. He spent 14 seasons with the Spurs. The 10-time All-Star won the scoring title in 1994 with a 71-point performance in the regular-season finale. He won two NBA championships and was a member of the 1992 Dream Team.
39. Dwight Gooden
Year: 1982 MLB Draft
Hype factor: The Hillsborough High School phenom in Tampa had earned the nickname "Doc" while coming up through the youth leagues. The Mets selected Gooden with the No. 5 pick in the 1982 MLB Draft, one pick after Chicago took Shawon Dunston.
How it turned out: Gooden played one year in the minors, where he had 300 Ks in 191 innings at Class A Lynchburg. He emerged as "Dr. K" with the Mets as part of a three-year stretch where he won Rookie of the Year in 1984, the pitching Triple Crown in 1985 and the World Series in 1986. That came with 744 total strikeouts. Gooden battled substance abuse problems throughout his 16-year career.
38. Luka Doncic
Year: 2018 NBA Draft
Hype factor: Doncic surfaced as a Slovenian basketball phenom as a teenager, and he was improbably the EuroLeague MVP at age 19 with a game that appeared would seamlessly translate to the NBA. That exposure led to him becoming arguably the most-hyped European-born NBA Draft prospect for his age.
How it turned out: The Mavericks traded up with Atlanta to get Doncic with the No. 3 pick. He won NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018-19. Through five seasons, Doncic is a four-time All-Star who averages 27.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game.
37. Earl Campbell
Year: 1978 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Campbell rushed for 2,036 yards as a senior in leading John Tyler High School to a 4A state championship, then rushed for 4,443 yards and 41 TDs at Texas. The 1978 Heisman Trophy winner stood out with his 232-pound frame and physical running style.
How it turned out: Campbell took the show to Houston after becoming the No. 1 pick and was the heart of the "Luv Ya Blue" Oilers era. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection who won the 1979 NFL MVP award. "The Tyler Rose" remains a Texas legend at every level of football.
36. Brian Bosworth
Year: 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft
Hype factor: "The Boz" was a two-time Butkus Award winner who compiled 413 tackles in three seasons at Oklahoma, but he was known as much for his heavy-metal haircuts and outspoken behavior. A failed drug test prevented Bosworth from playing in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, and he was kicked off the team before his senior season. Bosworth was taken by Seattle in the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft as a result.
How it turned out: The Seahawks signed Bosworth to the largest rookie deal at the time – a 10-year, $11-million contract. Shoulder injuries cut Bosworth's career to just three seasons, but he remains a cult hero to college football fans who can still be seen on the Dr. Pepper "Fansville" commercials.
35. Connor McDavid
Year: 2015 NHL Draft
Hype factor: McDavid put up absurd point totals in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. He had 106 goals between two levels in 2011-12, and the hype around the 6-1,185-pound center continued to increase with the Canadian national team at the World Junior Championships. McDavid tallied 99 points with the Erie Otters in 2014-15.
How it turned out: Edmonton took McDavid with the No. 1 pick, and he has delivered. McDavid is a two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner, five-time All-Star and he has led the NHL in points five times in eight seasons. McDavid has 850 career points.
34. Trevor Lawrence
Year: 2021 NFL Draft
Hype factor: According to 247Sports.com, Lawrence has the second-highest recruiting ranking for a quarterback. Lawrence took the starting job midway through his freshman year, led Clemson to a national championship and enjoyed a three-year run with a 34-2 record as a starter. He passed for 90 TDs with 17 interceptions. Lawrence never won the Heisman Trophy, and there was some conversation whether Justin Fields should be the No. 1 pick.
How it turned out: So far, so good for the No. 1 pick. Lawrence led the Jaguars to the AFC divisional playoffs in his second season and should continue to have a bright future with coach Doug Pederson.
33. Ricky Williams
Year: 1999 NFL Draft
Hype factor: The 1999 NFL Draft was about the quarterbacks until Saints coach Mike Ditka showed how badly he wanted to move up from the No. 12 pick to get Williams at No. 5. New Orleans traded eight draft picks – including their entire 1999 stockpile – to get Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner who rushed for a then-NCAA record 6,279 yards at Texas.
How it turned out: Williams' path to 10,009 career rushing yards is fascinating. He played three seasons in New Orleans before being traded to Miami. He led the NFL with 1,853 yards in 2002 but then retired in 2004 for one year, returned in 2005, missed the 2006 season because of a season-long suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, then played five more seasons.
32. Reggie Bush
Year: 2006 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Close your eyes and picture Bush's on-a-dime-cut against Fresno State (or just watch below). He had one of the most spectacular highlight tapes of all time at USC. He accounted for 4,470 yards from scrimmage and 38 TDs with those breathtaking play-making skills. It was a debate whether Houston would go with Bush or Mario Williams with the No. 1 pick.
How it turned out: The Saints didn't trade an entire draft to get Bush at No. 2, and he played five seasons and won a Super Bowl with New Orleans. Bush played 11 years, scored 58 touchdowns and had four 1,200-yards-from-scrimmage seasons, but he was not the all-around game-changing running back at the next level.
31. Kevin Durant
Year: 2007 NBA Draft
Hype factor: The 6-9, 215-pound forward earned Sporting News Player of the Year honors after averaging 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds as a freshman at Texas. Durant's unique scoring ability led to 11 games with 30 or more points.
How it turned out: Seattle took Durant with the No. 2 pick before the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City. Durant – a 14-time All-Star – won four scoring titles with the Thunder and two NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors. He averages 27.3 points per game for his career and is a sure-fire Hall of Famer.
30. Greg Oden
Year: 2007 NBA Draft
Hype factor: Oden – a 7-foot, 250-pound center – was taken ahead of Durant. Oden was the top recruit at Lawrence North (Indianapolis) High School alongside teammate Mike Conley Jr, and the tandem led the Buckeyes to the 2007 NCAA championship game as freshmen. Oden averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks.
How it turned out: Portland took Oden with the No. 1 pick, but he missed his entire rookie season because of right knee surgery. He played two seasons with the Trail Blazers before missing the next three years with injuries to his left knee. He played one more season in Miami before retiring.
29. Adrian Peterson
Year: 2007 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Peterson rushed for 2,960 yards as a senior at Palestine (Texas) High School, and there was debate whether he could make the jump straight to the NFL if it was permitted. Peterson finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting as a freshman at Oklahoma and totaled 4,041 yards and 41 TDs in three seasons.
How it turned out: Minnesota drafted Peterson with the No. 7 pick. Peterson led the league in rushing three times, was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and won the NFL MVP award in 2012. Peterson was suspended in 2014 after being indicted on child abuse charges. He returned in 2015, has 14,918 career rushing yards and is hoping to play in 2023.
28. Tim Duncan
Year: 1997 NBA Draft
Hype factor: This one still breaks Boston's heart. The Celtics had a 36% chance of winning the 1997 NBA Draft Lottery, but the No. 1 pick went to the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan averaged 16.5 points and 12.3 rebounds over a four-year career at Wake Forest and was seen as a franchise cornerstone power forward.
How it turned out: The "Big Fundamental" was a technician. He was a 15-time All-Star and five-time NBA champion with Gregg Popovich and the Spurs. He won the NBA MVP award in 2002-03. Boston, meanwhile, drafted Chauncey Billups, who played in 51 games for the Celtics before Rick Pitino traded him to Toronto.
27. Alex Rodriguez
Year: 1993 MLB Draft
Hype factor: Sports Illustrated profiled Rodriguez, a two-sport star at Westminster Christian High School who was being recruited heavily to play baseball – and perhaps football – for Miami. Sixty scouts attended his opening game his senior season in high school. Rodriguez hit .505 with nine homers and 35 stolen bases that season.
How it turned out: Seattle drafted Rodriguez with the No. 1 pick, and he made his debut in the 1994 season. Rodriguez was a 14-time All-Star and three-time AL MVP, but he was suspended for the entire 2014 season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Rodriguez finished with 696 home runs.
26. Alex Ovechkin
Year: 2004 NHL Draft
Hype factor: Ovechkin started playing with Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Super League as a 16-year-old left wing. The Florida Panthers tried to draft Ovechkin in 2003 despite the fact his birthday was two days after the cut-off, and they made their case using leap years. Ultimately, the Capitals would land Ovechkin with the No. 1 pick in 2004.
How it turned out: Ovechkin has spent 18 years with the Capitals, and he's scored 822 goals – 72 short of Wayne Gretzky's all-time record. Ovechkin is a three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner, and he led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup championship in 2018.
SN RUSHMORE: Ovechkin among all-time greats in Washington DC
25. Jadeveon Clowney
Year: 2014 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Clowney was the top recruit in the nation at South Pointe High School in Rock, Hill, S.C. - affectionately known as "Football City, USA." He played three seasons at South Carolina, which included "The Hit" in the Outback Bowl against Michigan. Clowney - a 6-foot-5, 266-pound edge rusher – ran a 4.53 at the 2014 NFL Combine.
Nothing scarier than 2012/2013 Jadeveon Clowney.
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 28, 2022
RIP Outback Bowl. pic.twitter.com/3iDFPnHu7Q
How it turned out: The Houston Texans selected Clowney with the No. 1 pick. Clowney has played nine seasons with four different teams, and he has 43 career sacks. The three-time Pro Bowl selection is a free agent heading into the 2023 season.
24. Tony Mandarich
Year: 1989 NFL Draft
Hype factor: "The Incredible Bulk." A Sports Illustrated article in the April 24, 1989 summed up the Mandarich hype with three words. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound offensive lineman finished sixth in the 1988 Heisman Trophy voting and was known for his nasty disposition on the field.
How it turned out: The Packers selected Mandarich after Troy Aikman with the No. 2 pick in the 1989 NFL Draft. How big was the hype? Future Hall of Famers Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders were the next three picks. Mandarich played just three seasons in Green Bay and battled substance abuse for the next four years before returning to football with the Indianapolis Colts in 1996.
23. Eric Lindros
Year: 1991 NHL Draft
Hype factor: Lindros – an imposing 6-foot-4, 240-pound center – inherited the nickname "The Next One" while moving up on the Canadian junior circuit. Quebec selected Lindros with the No. 1 pick in the 1991 NHL Draft, and he scored 180 points in 70 games in two seasons with the Oshawa Generals. He also was an emerging star on the Canadian national team.
How it turned out: Lindros was traded to Philadelphia in 1992. He played 13 seasons, won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1994-95 and led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals in 1996–97, but living up to "The Next One" label is never an easy task.
22. Kevin Garnett
Year: 1995 NBA Draft
Hype factor: Garnett emerged as one of the nation's top prospects after a senior season at Farragut Academy (Chicago) where he averaged 25.2 point, 17.9 rebounds and 6.5 blocks per game. Garnett entered the NBA Draft, where he would be the first high school-to-NBA first-round pick since Daryl Dawkins in 1975.
How it turned out: Minnesota took Garnett with the No. 5 pick, and that started a trend through the 2005 NBA Draft with hit-or-miss results. "The Big Ticket" won the NBA MVP in 2003-04 and led Boston to a victory in the 2008 NBA Finals. He played 21 seasons and was a 15-time All-Star.
Kevin Garnett’s senior year stats in high school!
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 19, 2023
25.2 PTS
17.9 REB
6.7 AST
6.5 BLK
66.8 FG% pic.twitter.com/LwQOvurAdj
21. Michael Jordan
Year: 1984 NBA Draft
Hype factor: Jordan was a two-time Sporting News Player of the Year who was best known for hitting the game-winning shot against Georgetown in the 1982 national championship game. Jordan was taken at No. 3 behind Akeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie, but the guard's popularity soared after the 1984 NBA Draft at the 1984 Summer's Olympics. A Nike shoe contract followed.
How it turned out: It took a few years to get through the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, but Jordan won six NBA championships and five NBA MVP awards through two stints with the Bulls. He won everything from the Slam Dunk Contest to Defensive Player of the Year, and that all-around standard is the bar for every player since – including LeBron James.
SN RUSHMORE: Michael Jordan headlines Chicago's Mount Rushmore of stars
20. Yao Ming
Year: 2002 NBA Draft
Hype factor: It was equal parts hype and curiosity with Ming – a 21-year-old 7-foot-6 center who was a star with the Shanghai Sharks. He averaged 30 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks per game in his final season with the Sharks. He gained national attention at the 2000 Summer Olympics while playing for the Chinese national team.
How it turned out: Ming was an eight-time All-Star in Houston who expanded the global appeal of the NBA in China. He averaged 19.0 points and 9.2 rebounds, but nagging foot and ankle injuries led to Ming retiring in 2011.
19. Herschel Walker
Year: 1983 USFL
Hype factor: Walker – who was voted the greatest player in college football history by Sporing News in 2019 – led the Bulldogs to a national championship as a freshman and won the Heisman Trophy as a junior. The NFL did not allow underclassmen to enter the NFL Draft, so Walker signed with the newly-formed New Jersey Generals in the USFL.
How it turned out: Walker rushed for 5,562 yards in three seasons with the Generals before the league folded, and he rushed for 8,225 yards over 12 NFL seasons through stints with the Cowboys, Vikings, Eagles and Giants. Dallas traded Walker to Minnesota in 1989 for five players and six draft picks; a move that helped build the 1990s Cowboys dynasty.
18. Larry Bird
Year: 1978 NBA Draft
Hype factor: This is one where Celtics general manager Red Auerbach had vision. Rules at the time allowed players to be selected four years after high school. Bird had only played three years of college ball to that point, so Boston drafted him and owned his rights while he led Indiana State to the NCAA national championship game as a senior. Bird averaged 30.3 points and 13.3 rebounds in college.
How it turned out: "Larry Legend" was born. He revitalized the Celtics' organization with one of the best skill sets in NBA history. A 12-time All-Star and three-time NBA MVP, Bird won three NBA championships with the Celtics. He then became a coach and executive with the Indiana Pacers.
17. Magic Johnson
Year: 1979 NBA Draft
Hype factor: You can't talk Bird without mentioning Magic – the flashy point guard whose nickname stuck from his days at Everett High School in Lansing, Mich. Johnson played two seasons at Michigan State. He led the Spartans to a 75-64 victory against Indiana State in the 1979 championship game.
How it turned out: The Lakers took Johnson with the No. 1 pick. Johnson brought "Showtime" to the NBA in a run defined by fast breaks and no-look passes. A 12-time All-Star and three-time MVP, Johnson won five NBA championships for Los Angeles. He then became a coach and executive with the Lakers and teamed with Bird on the 1992 Dream Team.
SN RUSHMORE: Magic Johnson among 3 Lakers and a Dodger on LA's mountain
16. Michael Vick
Year: 2000 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Vick was one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football history with a mix tape of break-away runs and left-handed vertical deep throws. He carried the Hokies to the 2000 Sugar Bowl against Florida State and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1999.
How it turned out: Vick's NFL career unfolded in three parts. He spent six seasons in Atlanta and led the Falcons to the NFC championship game in 2004. He missed the 2006 and 2007 seasons after pleading guilty to running a dog-fighting ring. Vick returned, played seven more seasons and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year with the Eagles in 2010.
15. Sidney Crosby
Year: 2005 NHL Draft
Hype factor: Crosby was a hockey prodigy as a teenager in Canada, and the notoriety swelled after he totaled 303 points in two seasons with Rimouski Oceanic in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. "Sid the Kid" was the talk leading up to the 2005 NHL Draft.
How it turned out: The Penguins selected Crosby with the No. 1 pick, and he has played 18 seasons with the franchise. That has come with two Hart Memorial Trophy awards, two Conn Smythe Trophy awards and three Stanley Cup championships. Crosby is the NHL's active leader in points with 1,502.
14. Stephen Strasburg
Year: 2009 MLB Draft
Hype factor: The 6-foot-5, 240-pound righthander was an overwhelming presence in college. He finished 13-1 with 195 strikeouts in 2009 at San Diego State and was the most-hyped pitcher to that point in the 21st century. The anticipation for his debut with the Washington Nationals spilled into the 2010 season.
How it turned out: Strasburg compiled 92 strikeouts in 68 innings in his first 12 starts in 2010, but he suffered a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery. He's had success as a three-time All-Star and World Series champion despite dealing with arm and shoulder injuries throughout his career.
13. Shaquille O'Neal
Year: 1992 NBA Draft
Hype factor: O'Neal – a 7-1, 325-pound center – enjoyed a brilliant three-year career at LSU. He averaged 31 points, 12.5 rebounds and eight blocks in two games at the 1992 NCAA tournament, and despite being left off the Dream Team it was clear a bright future in the NBA was in the cards. O'Neal topped all that with a fun personality that made him perfect for a sport that grew in popularity in the 1990s.
How it turned out: Orlando selected O'Neal with the No. 1 pick. He was a 15-time All-Star and a four-time NBA champion – including three titles with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. O'Neal won the scoring title twice and led the league in field-goal percentage 10 times. He's one of the best centers in NBA history and remains in the spotlight on "Inside the NBA."
12. Mario Lemieux
Year: 1984 NHL Draft
Hype factor: Lemieux began play in the Quebec Junior Major Hockey League when he was 15 years old, and he scored 562 points in three seasons. That included a record-breaking 1983-84 season in which he scored 133 goals with 149 assists for the Laval Voisins.
How it turned out: Pittsburgh took Lemieux with the No. 1 pick. Lemieux ranks eighth all time in NHL history with 1,723 points. He led the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1990-91 and 1991-92. Lemieux was a three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner and two-time Conn Smythe winner. He remains a co-owner of the franchise.
11. Zion Williamson
Year: 2019 NBA Draft
Hype factor: Williamson – a 6-foot-7, 285-pound forward – became a trending superstar with his powerful dunks at Spartanburg (S.C.) Day High School. He took the show to Duke – where he averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds and won the Wooden Award for a team that earned a No. 1 seed. Williamson missed five games with a knee injury, but returned for an Elite Eight run in the NCAA tournament.
How it turned out: New Orleans selected Williamson with the No. 1 pick. The two-time All-Star has averaged 25.8 points and 7.0 rebounds through four seasons, but he has missed 214 games due to injury, including the entire 2021-22 season.
10. Bo Jackson
Year: 1986 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Jackson hit .401 with 17 homers and 43 RBIs as a junior on the Auburn baseball team, then won the Heisman Trophy in football with 1,786 rushing yards and 17 TDs in 1985. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound running back ran an unofficial 4.12 in the 40-yard dash at the 1986 NFL Combine. Jackson's accomplishments were almost mythical in the television age. Controversy swirled as the draft approached because Jackson was angry with the Bucs after he lost his senior year NCAA baseball eligibility because of a paid-for trip to Tampa Bay.
How it turned out: Tampa Bay still drafted Jackson with the No. 1 pick, but he refused to play for the Buccaneers and chose baseball after the Royals took Jackson in the fourth round of the 1986 MLB Draft. From 1987-90, Jackson played for the Royals and Los Angeles Raiders as a two-way star. A hip injury, however, cut short that NFL career.
9. John Elway
Year: 1983 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Elway was a two-sport star at Stanford. He passed for 77 TDs and 39 interceptions as quarterback. He hit .361 with nine homers and 50 RBIs on the baseball team. The Yankees drafted Elway in the second round of the 1981 MLB Draft – six spots ahead of Tony Gwynn. Elway played one minor-league season, and there was speculation he might choose baseball over football.
How it turned out: The Baltimore Colts drafted Elway at No. 1, but the quarterback helped force a trade to Denver. Elway played 16 seasons with the Broncos, where he passed for 51,475 yards and 300 TDs. He won the 1987 NFL MVP and played in five Super Bowls. Elway led Denver to victories in Super Bowl XXXI and Super Bowl XXXII and is in the Hall of Fame.
SN RUSHMORE: John Elway a central figure among Denver's all-time greats
8. Patrick Ewing
Year: 1985 NBA Draft
Hype factor: Ewing led Georgetown to three Final Fours in four years and thrived in an era where franchises built their teams around 7-foot centers. Ewing averaged 15.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.4 blocks at Georgetown. He was the no-doubt No. 1 pick in the year of the NBA's first draft lottery, which increased the excitement around what many thought was a generational player.
How it turned out: The New York Knicks won the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery, and there are conspiracy theories to this day that surmise former NBA commissioner David Stern had a "frozen envelope" to ensure Ewing landed in the Big Apple. Ewing played 17 seasons, was an 11-time All-Star, played on the 1992 Dream Team and is in the Hall of Fame.
7. Andrew Luck
Year: 2012 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Remember the "Suck for Luck" campaign? That was a year in advance of the 2021 NFL Draft. Luck, a 6-4, 240-pound quarterback at Stanford, was getting Elway comparisons. Luck passed for 82 TDs and 22 interceptions with the Cardinal, and the Colts were again in position to get a franchise quarterback.
How it turned out: Indianapolis released Peyton Manning before drafting Luck with the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Luck played six seasons, was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and led the Colts to the 2014 AFC championship game. Luck abruptly retired before the start of the 2019 season.
6. Bryce Harper
Year: 2010 MLB Draft
Hype factor: Harper was known in MLB scouting circles as a teenager. A June 9, 2010 Sports Illustrated feature put the Las Vegas High School star in the spotlight with tales of 96 mph fastball and 500-foot home runs. Harper reclassified so he could be selected in the 2010 MLB Draft, and he was an easy choice for the Washington Nationals, who had drafted Stephen Strasburg the previous year.
How it turned out: Harper has played 12 seasons between Washington and Philadelphia. He won the 2015 NL MVP with the Nationals and the 2021 NL MVP with the Phillies, and he's a seven-time All-Star and Home Run Derby champion. He led Philadelphia to the 2022 World Series with an impressive postseason that included six home runs.
5. Victor Wembanyama
Year: 2023 NBA Draft
Hype factor: Yes, Wembanyama is this high. The 19-year-old French sensation has an 8-foot wingspan. He made his EuroLeague debut in 2021, and he's spent the last two seasons with the Metropolitans in the LNB Pro A. Wembanyama averages 21.6 points and 10.6 rebounds – and he will shoot the occasional 3-pointer. In April, ESPN's Jay Bilas said, "We may think of him as one of the best players who ever lived when all is said and done."
How it turned out: The San Antonio Spurs have the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and that means Wembanyama will be expected to be a franchise cornerstone in the same vein as David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
4. Wayne Gretzky
Year: Undrafted
Hype factor: Gretzky gets an exemption to make this list. He was undrafted, but he was a youth hockey legend in Canada who totaled 678 goals in 223 games from 1969-72. Because of the NHL age limits, Gretzky played in the World Hockey Association at 17 years old, and he scored 104 points with the Edmonton Oilers in 1978-79.
How it turned out: The Oilers joined the NHL the following season, and Gretzky became "The Great One." He set NHL records in goals (894), assists (1,963) and points (2,857) while winning four Stanley Cup championships and nine Hart Memorial Trophy awards. He set an almost impossible standard for other hockey players to follow.
3. Peyton Manning
Year: 1998 NFL Draft
Hype factor: Manning – the son of Archie Manning – lived up to the billing at Tennessee with a brilliant four-year career that included three top-10 Heisman finishes. There was a debate with Ryan Leaf as to who should go No. 1 in the NFL Draft, but the Colts would not pass on the 6-foot-5, 230-pound legacy quarterback.
How it turned out: Manning is always in the conversation when talking about the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He passed for 71,940 yards and 539 TDs and won five AP NFL MVP awards. Manning won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts and Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos. He is part of a quarterback line that also produced brother Eli and nephew Arch – a five-star freshman at Texas. The generational hype continues.
2. Ken Griffey Jr.
Year: 1987 MLB Draft
Hype factor: Griffey thrived as a two-sport star at Cincinnati Moeller High School, and he hit .478 with 10 home runs as a senior. The question wasn't whether Griffey Jr. would be a star after Seattle drafted him with the No. 1 pick. It was whether he would make his MLB debut in time to play with his father – who signed with the Mariners in 1990.
How it turned out: "The Kid" made a cultural impact that included backward hats, baseball cards, leaping catches and a sweet swing that nobody could forget. Griffey Jr. did play with his father, and that was part of a 22-year career where he won one AL MVP award and made 13 All-Star game appearances. Griffey Jr. finished with 630 career home runs, and three Home Run Derby titles.
1. LeBron James
Year: 2003 NBA Draft
Hype factor: The Feb. 18, 2002 Sports Illustrated cover - "The Chosen One" – thrust James into the national spotlight, but he was ready. James won three state championships at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary with an unbelievable combination of size, skill and basketball genius. The Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2003 NBA Draft Lottery, which meant James was staying close to home.
How it turned out: "King James" dominated the NBA for 20 seasons. He holds the NBA's all-time scoring record with 38,652 points. He won four NBA championships and four NBA MVP awards. He's done that with an ever-present spotlight that extended from Cleveland to Miami, back to Cleveland and now with the Los Angeles Lakers. James turns 39 next season, and his son Bronny will be a freshman at USC. That longevity of living to expectations remains unparalleled today.
