Teen Stars: Did They Have Staying Power

SI Staff | Aug 5, 2008

Teen Stars: Did They Have Staying Power

Andrea Jaeger

Manny Millan/SI

At what age is an athlete ready to handle the pressure of stardom? Here's a look some athletes who found the spotlight early, including Jaegar, who won her first professional tournament at 14 and reached the Wimbledon final four years later. At 19, her career ended after an injury.

Freddy Adu

Bill Frakes/SI

After Adu signed a $1 million deal with Nike at 13, one MLS official predicted he could be the first male American soccer icon by 17. Now, 19, Adu is one of the biggest stars on the U.S. Olympic soccer team and has been improving game-by-game with the senior U.S. team. He's on loan for the coming season to Monaco.

Michelle Wie

Bob Martin/SI

At 11, Wie became the youngest golfer, and the first female, to qualify for the 94-year-old Manoa Cup, Hawaii 's match-play championship for men. Two years later, after winning the 2003 Women's Public Links, Wie turned pro and has gone on to make millions in endorsements.

Tracy Austin

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

At 16, Austin became the youngest champion -- male or female -- in the history of the U.S. Open. After winning again in 1981, she was forced into retirement with an injured back.

Jennifer Capriati

Caryn Levy/SI

At 14, she was the youngest to ever be ranked in the top 10. She was arrested for marijuana possession at 18 in a Coral Gables, Fla., hotel room alongside friends who later would accuse her of also using crack and heroin.

Allyson Felix

Peter Read Miller/SI

In 2003, SI's Tim Layden dubbed Felix, then 17, the next Marion Jones. So far she's lived up to the billing. Felix will be competing in her second Olympics. She won silver in the 200 in Athens, when she was 18.

Sidney Crosby

Lou Capozzola/SI

Nicknamed Sid The Kid, Crosby was the first overall pick in the NHL entry draft when he was 17. He led the Penguins to this year's Stanley Cup Finals and has quickly become the most marketable face in the NHL.

Schea Cotton

Robert Beck/SI

Cotton drew attention when he dunked for the first time in the sixth grade. Once thought to be a surefire draft pick out of high school, the closest he came to the NBA was the L.A. Clippers' summer squad.

LeBron James

Michael J. Lebrecht, II/SI

Described as the heir to Air Jordan at the age of 16, James jumped to the NBA out of high school, with the Cleveland Cavaliers making him the first overall pick in 2003. He's now one of the NBA's biggest stars.

Kobe Bryant

AP

At 19 and in his second season, Bryant became the youngest to make the NBA All-star team. He has won three NBA titles and was last year's MVP.

Joey Logano

Al Tielemans/SI

At 17, Logano spent 2007 competing in the NASCAR Grand National Division. He looked so impressive in winning three of his first four races there that he could make his Sprint Cup series debut before this season's over.

Sebastian Telfair

Michael J. LeBrecht II/SI

In 2004, Coney Island hoops product Telfair became the first point guard to jump from high school to the NBA. He was picked 13th in the draft and now plays for the Timberwolves.

Ty Tryon

Greg Foster/SI

At 16, Tryon became the youngest player to make the cut at a Tour event in 44 years. Now 24, he competes on the Nationwide Tour and hopes to get back to the PGA.

Ian Crocker

AP

At 17, Crocker was part of the world-record-setting 4x100 medley relay teams that won gold in Sydney in 2000. He came back in 2004 to win three medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze) and will compete in the 2008 Games.