The NEXT Athlete award is given out every year by ESPN the Magazine to one or more athletes chosen as a future leader or trailblazer in their sport. The winning athlete(s) is featured on the cover of the late January issue of ESPN the Magazine.
Historically, the winners of this award have gone on to exceptional careers, or at the very least early success in their careers, with the exception of a few.
Past Winners/Nominees
Winners After 2009
2010 Kevin Durant
2011 Buster Posey
2012 Cam Newton
2013 Kyrie Irving
References
NEXT Athlete Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA