Ranking the 32 most hyped draft prospects

The hype machine is in full churn for Myles Garrett, with the NFL Draft later this week and the Texas A&M defensive end increasingly viewed as the likely No. 1 overall pick. The anti-hype machine is in full churn, too: If there's one thing we love more than praising our Next Big Things, it's tearing them apart.

Garrett is the latest in a long line, one that spans all four major North American sports leagues and their drafts. In fact, as good as he is, Garrett didn't even quite crack our list.

For The Win set out to rank the 32 most hyped MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL draft prospects of the past 20 years. The challenge presented many facets. MLB and, to a lesser degree, the NHL de-emphasize the draft because of their fully developed minor leagues. The NFL's age limit means that players such as Adrian Peterson and even No. 1 picks such as Sam Bradford and Jadeveon Clowney were actually more highly regarded prospects a year or two before they could enter the draft. The NBA's reliance on star power and lengthy regular season creates a world of tanking that builds up the hype around the expected No. 1 pick - see Markelle Fultz this year.

But our final list breaks down like this: 11 NBA prospects, nine NFL prospects, six NHL prospects, six MLB prospects and a wild mix of end results.

32. Reggie Bush

The Southern California running back was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft, selected by the New Orleans Saints.

The hype: There may never have been an NFL Draft with more star power than in 2006: Bush, Vince Young, Matt Leinart, A.J. Hawk, Antonio Cromartie, Jay Cutler, Donte Whitner and so on. The issue was sorting through the celebrity to get to the real hype: The Houston Texans - in need of a running back and in Young's hometown - seemed to be overwhelmed by the process when they chose Mario Williams first (and were ripped for the choice). Bush was on top of seemingly every team's draft board, though, and many were calling him the most exciting playmaker to come along in years. Concerns about his size and durability were eschewed in favor of his insane highlight reels.

The quote: "I feel like I came in here today as the No. 1 guy, and I think I'm leaving the same way. So, in that sense, it's pretty satisfying. Now I can kick back and go to the beach for a few days. For me, well, I think I'm walking out of here a winner for the day." - Bush to ESPN from Southern Cal's pro day

The result: A mix of injury and inability caught Bush early. He simply couldn't make plays without a ton of space, and his five years in New Orleans featured more missed games (20) than rushing touchdowns (17). Bush then rehabilitated his career slightly with three solid seasons, two with the Dolphins and one with the Lions, before injuries set in again. But he never made a Pro Bowl or had a 10-touchdown season, and he's now a free agent with no clear future in the NFL. Williams somehow was the right choice, unless you want to count No. 12 pick Haloti Ngata.

31. Pat Burrell

The Miami (Fla.) third baseman was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1998 MLB First-Year Player Draft, selected by the Philadelphia Phillies.

The hype: "The Bat" was an absolute college baseball superstar - his slugging percentage was second in NCAA history, and he was an All-American in all three seasons with the Hurricanes. Between his power, his eye and his college production, he was as polished a slugger as has entered the majors in the past 20 years. The only real debate was what position he'd play; defense was never a strong suit.

The quote: "(Burrell) was born to be a star. He was a star in high school (football and baseball), and even bigger star in college … and he was the first overall pick in the 1998 amateur draft. … He could never EXCEED expectations because those expectations were limitless." - Joe Posnanski, on Burrell's Hall of Fame case

The result: Burrell was a solid hitter through 12 major league seasons, winning two World Series. He spent nine seasons with the Phillies, for whom he currently is fourth in career home runs and fifth in career walks.

30. Carmelo Anthony

The Syracuse forward was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft, selected by the Denver Nuggets.

29. Darko Milicic

The Hemofarm (Serbia) forward was the No. 2 pick of the 2003 NBA Draft, selected by the Detroit Pistons.

( Editor's note: We've combined the descriptions for Melo and Darko, since they were so closely associated.)

The hype: The American basketball community has never been as unified as it was the day Milicic, who averaged 9.5 points a game in his Serbian league, was selected ahead of Anthony, who averaged 22.2 points a game in leading Syracuse to its first NCAA championship. The Pistons were on the rise but had this draft pick because of a previous trade, and they decided to swing for the fences. Milicic wasn't really a mystery man; he was a heavily vetted big man and the most highly lauded European NBA Draft prospect since Arvydas Sabonis. Anthony still was the safer pick, absolutely. He had college qualifications beyond measure in his one NCAA season, and there was no chance he wasn't going to at least be an elite NBA scorer. Yet the consensus was that Milicic had a higher ceiling and would have been selected by just about every team. This wasn't a Sam Bowie-over-Michael Jordan situation, in other words. Oh, and before you ask - no, neither of these guys measured up, then or now, to the player selected first overall. We'll get to him in a bit.

The quotes: "He's the LeBron James of college basketball, and he might be a better player. What does LeBron James do that Carmelo doesn't?" - former Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson during the 2003 NCAA tournament

"Personally, I would take Darko ahead of LeBron James because he has more skills and can play more positions. There are very few can't-miss players, but I have no doubt that Darko is a can't-miss player." - former Utah Jazz director of international scouting Alberto Dal Cin before the draft

The result: Well, neither had a career on the level of LeBron James. But at least Anthony came somewhat close. He's on pace to finish in the top 10 in NBA history in points, as one of the most natural scorers in the game's history. Critics point to his lack of a championship, but he was the go-to scorer on four 50-victory teams including one that made the 2009 Western Conference finals. Milicic … not so much. He finished a 10-year NBA career with averages of 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds a game. That positional versatility and shooting ability never showed up - he only took six 3-pointers in his career, and missed them all. At his best, when he wasn't injured, he managed to be a competent rotation big man who could block shots and hit mid-range jumpers.

28. Rick DiPietro

The Boston University goaltender was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, selected by the New York Islanders.

(Graphic by Steven Ruiz; AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

The hype: DiPietro was the second goalie (after Michel Plasse in 1968) and fourth American (Brian Lawton in 1983, Mike Modano in 1988, Bryan Berard in 1995) to be drafted first overall. That happened because of his dominant single season at BU, which included a performance in which he saved 77 of 80 shots on goal in an NCAA regional final. The DiPietro pick coincided with the Islanders trading away their two young goalie prospects, Roberto Luongo and Kevin Weekes.

The quote: "Rick DiPietro, that's why." - then-Islanders general manager Mike Milbury, on why he was willing to go against his own wisdom on letting young goalies play a lot

The result: DiPietro became a punchline. After a few promising but injury-plagued seasons, he received a groundbreaking 15-year contract in 2006 from the Islanders, who hoped to capitalize on his popularity and shore up the future of the franchise. Instead, the injuries continued until he was bought out in 2013. Making matters worse, Luongo and No. 2 pick Dany Heatley became NHL stars as DiPietro faltered.

27. Derrick Rose

The Memphis point guard was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft, selected by the Chicago Bulls.

The hype: Most athletic point guard prospect ever. The words were used frequently with regards to Rose (even though they ended up being fulfilled more by fellow 2008 draftee Russell Westbrook), and it was easy to see why. Michael Beasley had early hype thanks to gaudy numbers at Kansas State, but Rose slipped past him with his outstanding NCAA tournament run, which concluded in him missing key free throws and losing the championship game to Kansas despite a 38-1 record entering the game. That sour note hardly mattered, as Rose had a history of winning at every level.

The quote: "Watching his footage, it’s hard not to wonder whether Rose might actually be the most athletic point guard we'’ve ever evaluated at the college level. We talk about quickness and explosiveness and such all the time on DraftExpress, but Rose is clearly in a class of his own." - DraftExpress' Rodger Bohn and Jonathan Givony, early in Rose's college career

The result: Well, he won an NBA MVP and led the Bulls to consecutive No. 1 seeds. So that was a clear success. Then the injuries came - and keep coming.

26. Julius Peppers

The North Carolina defensive end was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft, selected by the Carolina Panthers.

(AP Photo/Spartanburg Herald-Journal, John Byrum)

The hype: Having won virtually every award a defensive lineman can win as a junior in college, Peppers entered the draft being viewed as the best pass-rushing prospect since perhaps Bruce Smith. (Peppers was clearly viewed as his draft class' best prospect, but positional value led to David Carr being selected first.)

The quote: "If I had the first pick in the draft, I'd take him. Julius Peppers is one of those guys who comes along every 10 years. A bigger Deacon Jones." - then-Kansas City Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil, before the draft

The result: Peppers continues a surefire Hall of Fame career, while Carr (and No. 3 pick Joey Harrington, also a quarterback) were busts. He is fifth in NFL history in sacks and rejoined the Panthers this offseason with a realistic chance to move into third if he can play two or three more seasons.

25. Jameis Winston

The Florida State quarterback was the No. 1 overall selection of the 2015 NFL Draft, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The hype: Perhaps Winston was a bit bored in his sophomore season. He'd won the Heisman Trophy and national championship as a redshirt freshman and, in the process, become one of the most anticipated NFL Draft prospects ever despite being forced to return to school for another year. Still, Winston threw for 3,907 yards and led Florida State to an undefeated regular season as a sophomore. Oregon's Marcus Mariota gained some steam - particularly because he lacked the off-field issues that swarmed around Winston - but then everyone watched the tape again.

The quote: "If you really look at it, his anticipation, the accuracy, the way he can extend plays - I know he's not fast. We saw that. He didn't jump well. He didn't run well. Who cares? He extends plays with his strength, his anticipation, his feel inside the pocket. That's what's special about him." - ESPN's Todd McShay before the draft on why he rated Winston as the second-best quarterback prospect of the past decade

The result: Winston is the only quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. His rivalry with Mariota persists, though, because while Winston is a spectacular gunslinger, Mariota has shown better decision-making skills and been more efficient as a result. Both appear primed to enter the ranks of elite quarterbacks this season.

24. John Wall

The Kentucky point guard was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft, selected by the Washington Wizards.

The hype: Wall would have been the No. 1 overall pick in 2009, had he chosen to test the NBA's early entry policy as a 19-year-old fifth-year high schooler. He didn't, and instead he led John Calipari's first Kentucky team to a 35-3 record and Elite Eight. Even with Evan Turner sweeping National Player of the Year Awards, there was no doubt Wall would be the top pick in a decent draft class.

The quote: "He's an outstanding talent. Great speed, quickness, very good defender, has a very competitive nature to him, and he wants to be a really great player. Great work ethics, so we think he's going to be a focal point for this organization for many, many years to come." - Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld, after the draft

The result: Wall has lived up to his billing, making four consecutive All-Star Games. He may be the fastest player in the NBA, and he has slowly learned to control that speed, posting a career-best season this year.

23. Kwame Brown

The Monteverde Academy high school forward was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft, selected by the Washington Wizards.

(Graphic by Steven Ruiz; AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

The hype: Brown was the first high schooler ever selected No. 1 overall. That alone should tell you something, though it might have been a matter of time given the successes of Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady; consider that fellow high schooler Tyson Chandler was drafted second. Brown was a late riser in his recruiting class but showed remarkable gifts that had people comparing him to seemingly every top power forward in the NBA: Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Chris Webber, etc.

The quote: "I promise if you draft me, you'll never regret it." - Kwame Brown to then-Wizards coach Doug Collins, who recalled the quote to USA TODAY Sports' David DuPree on the night of the draft

The result: Well, he played 12 NBA seasons, at least. Brown - who had the unfortunate extra burden of being Michael Jordan's first draft pick as Wizards general manager - has become the punching bag of NBA age-limit advocates as one of the great busts in NBA history. He finished his career with averages of 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game; somehow, he might have been underrated by the end of it all.

22. Joe Thornton

The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds center was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, selected by the Boston Bruins.

(AP Photo/Julia Malakie)

The hype: Eric Lindros won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 1995, which was the same year Thornton began his Ontario Hockey League career. The timing was perfect; Thornton's game resembled Lindros' so much that hyping him was easy. His size and passing ability - he had 41 goals and 81 assists for the Greyhounds in 1996-97 - were enough to ensure his status as a future NHL star and the No. 1 pick.

The quote: "A center with uncommon skill and vision for his size, he was going to follow in the footsteps of Shore, Schmidt, Orr, and Bourque." - The Boston Globe's Christopher Gasper, in 2016

The result: Thornton produced big statistics but frustrating games with the Bruins for 7½ seasons before they traded him to the San Jose Sharks, with whom he promptly won his own Hart Trophy. The 37-year-old will be a Hall of Famer when he retires and is 13th in NHL history in assists.

21. Calvin Johnson

The Georgia Tech wide receiver was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft, selected by the Detroit Lions.

The hype:ESPN's Todd McShay has never graded a wide receiver better than Johnson, and it's easy to see why. He accounted for more than half (1,202 of 2,375 yards) of his Georgia Tech team's passing offense as a junior, and he possessed literally every skill one could ask for in a go-to wideout. Johnson had tight-end size but elite speed, and his route-running and hands were impeccable.

The quote: "The guy is an absolute freak. You name it. Size. Speed. Hands. Mental toughness. He's the whole package. I hope they threw away the mold after they created him because, man, there better not be another monster like him anywhere out there." - former Falcons cornerback Jimmy Williams to ESPN before the draft

The result: Yeah, that about covers it. Johnson had an argument as the best wide receiver in the NFL from his second season until he stunningly retired in 2015 at age 30. His average of 86.1 receiving yards per game ranks first among retired players, and even in a nine-year career, he managed to rank 22nd all-time in receiving touchdowns.

20. J.D. Drew

The Florida State outfielder was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1997 MLB First-Year Player Draft, selected by the Philadelphia Phillies. However, because of a contractual dispute and a rules loophole, he did not join the Phillies, instead signing with the independent Northern League and also being the No. 5 overall pick in the 1998 MLB First-Year Player Draft, selected by the St. Louis Cardinals.

The hype: Drew might have been the greatest outfielder in NCAA history; he had college baseball's only 30-homer, 30-steal season while hitting .455. But never mind that; he wouldn't be on this list if not for Scott Boras. The notorious agent used Drew to expose a giant flaw in the draft system - then watched as MLB changed the system after the fact to hurt him and Drew. There's nothing like a player who changes the system, and the animosity that Phillies fans built turned Drew into a pariah before he even had a chance to be selected the second time.

The quote: "Our point is that J.D. would be signed and playing right now if he had been drafted by another team. There definitely were offers tendered to us by other teams. The true value of amateur players is now evident. It's very different this year. The draft once was seen as an evaluation structure. Now it's exposed as a barrier for keeping the premium talents from getting their true worth." - Boras, explaining why he was upset with the Phillies and the draft rules

The result: Drew was called up not long after the 1998 draft and tore the cover off the baseball that September. But a bunch of minor injuries and occasional inconsistency made his career bumpy. He retired as a very underrated player, with a career on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .873 and 44.9 Wins Above Replacement despite only one All-Star Game appearance.

19. Karl-Anthony Towns

The Kentucky center was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The hype: How much hype can a player who only saw 21.1 minutes per game in college have? Towns had all of it. Perhaps a little buried statistically by 38-1 Kentucky's bizarre platoon system, "KAT" was a dominant force for the second half of the college season and had clearly ended any debates involving Duke star Jahlil Okafor or Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell. Then he worked out. Towns' jaw-dropping shooting range and fluid handles were not on display much in high school and college, but once NBA scouts saw them in action, the expectations surged further. He was frequently compared to David Robinson, but he was four years younger upon entering the NBA.

The quote: "He was arguably the most well-rounded player in college basketball to only play 20 minutes a night. You know the story about how Dean Smith was the only person to keep Jordan under 20 points per game? It's the same thing with Towns. Who was the one guy to keep Towns down? John Calipari. That's how talented he is." - NBA scout to Grantland, before the draft

The result: Two seasons in, no one should be complaining. Towns had a historic rookie season followed by a historic second season. Consider this: He's the only player in NBA history to average 25 points, 12 rebounds, 1 3-pointer and 1 block per game for a season. He's 21.

18. Jack Eichel

The Boston University center was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, selected by the Buffalo Sabres.

The hype: Though American media tried to build up a debate between Eichel and Connor McDavid, Eichel clearly was behind his Canadian counterpart in terms of expectation and hype. That's the hockey prospect equivalent of saying the David is behind the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel among Michelangelo's most famous works. Eichel was considered the next face of American hockey, and he was the first freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award for best college hockey player since Paul Kariya in 1993.

The quote: "I think we sometimes use the phrase 'franchise player' too loosely, but both of these players have the potential to be that." - Nashville Predators general manager David Poile, before the draft, to USA TODAY Sports' Kevin Allen

The result: Eichel finished fourth in Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) voting in his first year as a pro, as he and third-place McDavid trailed two more experienced and older rookies. He then was hurt early in his second season but played 61 strong games and finished 14th in points per game.

17. Ryan Leaf

The Washington State quarterback was the No. 2 overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, selected by the San Diego Chargers.

The hype: Brett Favre and John Elway were the best quarterbacks in the NFL, so maybe that erratic, strong-armed style was en vogue. Either way, Leaf was legitimately under consideration for the No. 1 overall pick ahead of the most polished QB prospect perhaps ever, Peyton Manning. Leaf had a stronger arm and a flair for the dramatic, and he was surrounded by less talent at Washington State than Manning had at Tennessee. He was the antihero choice, sure, but some still insist that a third of the teams in the NFL would have selected him first.

The quote: "Very self-confident to the point where some people view him as being arrogant and almost obnoxious. However, coach (Mike) Price swears that, once you get to know him, Leaf is a great person." - Pro Football Weekly scouting report, before the draft

The result: Leaf has a decent argument for being the biggest not-entirely-injury-related draft bust in sports history. He was fined before his first game, he fumbled his first snap and he might have had the worst rookie season ever. Leaf appeared in all of 25 NFL games for his career, throwing 36 interceptions to 14 touchdowns before retiring at age 26. That was only the beginning of a whirlwind life that included two years in prison for drug- and burglary-related charges. But he recently told USA TODAY's Josh Peter that he's now living the life of his dreams.

16. Joe Mauer

The Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.) High School catcher was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 MLB First-Year Player Draft, selected by the Minnesota Twins.

(AP Photo/Jim Mone)

15. Mark Prior

The Southern California pitcher was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2001 MLB First-Year Player Draft, selected by the Chicago Cubs.

(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

( Editor's note: We've combined the descriptions of Mauer and Prior, since they were the subject of so much debate.)

The hype: As far as we can tell, there may never have been a tenser and more divisive debate at the top of a draft board. Mauer was the high school catcher without a single hole in his swing or game. Prior was the proven ace pitcher being compared to Tom Seaver and Roger Clemens. Mauer also had going for him that the tide on first-round catcher prospects had begun to turn, and he was three years younger than Prior. But the hype around Prior was so enormous that he had to be put one spot higher on this list; many believe Mauer was selected to appease hometown fans and because Prior's signing bonus was expected to be so much larger. The debate about who was the better prospect still lives on - for whatever reason (see the result section).

The quotes: "I'd put (Mauer) in the Ken Griffey class as one of the two most talented baseball seniors I've ever seen. I didn't see a player in football or baseball this year who had more potential." - recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, to USA TODAY Sports' Tom Weir before the draft

"The more and more I know about what scouts are saying, I hear that somebody of Mark's talents hasn't come out in many a year; some people say decades." - Prior's agent, John Boggs, to USA TODAY Sports' David Leon Moore before the draft

The result: Mauer, who is still playing, may end up in the Hall of Fame, as one of few catchers to hit .300 for his career while playing solid defense. He was arguably the best at the position for his entire 10-year run there, which ended in 2013 when he moved to first base, and his 2009 MVP performance included leading the the American League in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Prior had one great season before injuries destroyed his arm and potential. He later lamented his own mechanics, once so highly praised but later exposed for a major flaw in movement.

14. Alexander Ovechkin

The Dynamo Moscow winger was the No. 1 pick of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, selected by the Washington Capitals.

(AP Photo/ Karl DeBlaker)

The hype: Dynamo Moscow may be the best pro hockey team not in the NHL. Ovechkin was playing for them at age 16. He'd spent at least two years as the prohibitive favorite to be the No. 1 pick in 2004, which of course meant that someone else had to come in and challenge him, if only to create drama. That someone else was fellow Russian Evgeni Malkin, who had been a bit more productive in the same Russian Super League. But don't be fooled; Ovechkin was the man, as talented a scorer as the draft had seen in years and built to last. There was no doubt he'd be a star.

The quote: "Ovechkin was a pure goal-scorer, and what's one of the hardest things to do in the NHL? It's score goals. Ovechkin and Malkin could both skate and handle the puck and they were big and strong, but, for us, Ovi was our guy. He initiated a lot of contact, liked to finish checks, and had this ability to score goals, a lot of goals." - then-Capitals director of amateur scouting Ross Mahoney to NHL.com last year

The result: The debate between Ovechkin and Malkin has actually become a real one, but only because they've both had clear-cut Hall of Fame careers. At 31 and despite the NHL lockout killing what should have been his rookie season, Ovechkin is sixth among active players in career points. He's led the NHL in goals six times, the most for any player since Phil Esposito. However, he still chases postseason success.

13. Orlando Pace

The Ohio State offensive tackle was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1997 NFL Draft, selected by the St. Louis Rams.

(Graphic by Steven Ruiz; AP Photo/Holly Stein)

The hype: How good was Pace in college? He didn't allow a sack in his final two seasons. He finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting despite, y'know, being a lineman. He made the entire nation aware of the term "pancake block" because we all needed a way to measure how good Pace was in college. Pace wasn't the first offensive tackle to be drafted first overall - but it hadn't happened in 29 years (Ron Yary). The left tackle position was gaining more prominence in the late 1990s, and Pace was the best prospect the position has ever seen.

The quote: "People ask me, who is the best athlete I ever coached? I don't know, to be honest with you. Joey Galloway, Robert Smith, Shawn Springs or David Boston - it's hard to say who the best athlete was. But in my opinion, Orlando was the best football player. I mean, I don't know how you could play the position any better than he played it." - former Ohio State coach John Cooper to ESPN before Pace's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction

The result: Pace joined Jonathan Ogden, Walter Jones and Willie Roaf in a dominant generation of Hall of Fame left tackles who all were ranked in the top eight in the position's history by NFL.com. It's arguable who was the best in that group, though Pace made the fewest Pro Bowls with "only" seven. Still, he was the invisible hand allowing "The Greatest Show on Turf" to run, a key figure in the Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV victory and the best years in franchise history.

12. Michael Vick

The Virginia Tech quarterback was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 NFL Draft, selected by the San Diego Chargers and promptly traded to the Atlanta Falcons.

The hype: It seems like a cop-out to say you had to be there, but Vick was that kind of player. His statistics were spectacularly unspectacular, and he missed 2½ games his redshirt sophomore year. But the Hokies were 20-1 when Vick started over his two seasons. He was the fastest quarterback anyone had ever seen, yet he had arm strength to rival John Elway and Dan Marino. Then there were his playmaking instincts, the way he always seemed to know what every other player on the field was about to do. You had to be there to really get it.

The quote: "I'm not the greatest player in the world, and I won't be the greatest player in the world when I step on an NFL field. But believe me: With a couple of years of maturing and a couple of years of experience, maybe I will be the greatest." - Vick, upon declaring for the draft

The result: He wasn't the greatest, but there were days when he looked the part in his first few seasons. His career derailed because of his involvement in a dog-fighting ring that ended with him being sent to prison for nearly two years. But he returned to the NFL in 2009 with the Eagles and showed a stronger grip on passing offense than ever before. His turbulent career ended with him holding the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 6,109.

11. Kevin Durant

The Texas forward was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, selected by the Seattle SuperSonics.

The hype: A sneak peek at the rest of the list: Durant is the highest-ranked player who wasn't the No. 1 overall selection in his draft. That was kind of a no-brainer. Durant and Greg Oden were part of the first group of one-and-done players unable to declare for the NBA directly out of high school. That produced one of the more memorable college basketball seasons and NBA Drafts ever, and Durant was everyone's player of the year after averaging 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.9 steals a game. His combination of length, skill and scoring instinct was unrivaled, perhaps in NBA history. We'll get to why he was the second pick (and is below Oden on this list) later.

The quote: "When a guy is described as an MJ/KG/T-Mac hybrid and it seems reasonable, that says something. We have a fair idea where Oden's career is headed; we have no clue where Durant's will take him. The ceiling has been lifted." - ESPN's Bill Simmons before the draft

The result: Simmons' "MJ/KG/T-Mac hybrid" wasn't the most popular hybridization comparison for Durant. It was Tracy McGrady meets Dirk Nowitzki instead, and amazingly, Durant has lived up to that billing for the first decade of his career. He's led the NBA in total points every time he's missed fewer than eight games since his rookie year. He's won an MVP and finished second three other times. Joining the Warriors should push him toward the championship that it took Nowitzki 13 seasons to claim, but he's already a Hall of Famer.

10. Peyton Manning

The Tennessee quarterback was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, selected by the Indianapolis Colts.

The hype: The second son of a longtime NFL quarterback; the possessor of a 6-5 frame and "laser, rocket arm"; the winner of nearly every award given to college quarterbacks; and the Southeastern Conference's (then-)all-time leader in passing yards, Manning had everything going for him. He even had a rival, Ryan Leaf, who arguably challenged him to be the No. 1 overall pick. Manning's critics argued he lacked Leaf's upside, which is a skeptic's way of saying Manning was ridiculously polished - almost comically polished, in a way that let everyone know he'd be an able-bodied NFL starter in Year One and a star by Year Three.

The quote: "A few years ago, we studied the top 30 quarterbacks of all time. The Number 1 trait we found was toughness; they all had it. Number 2 was accuracy. Number 3 was instincts. The last was work ethic and maturity. Peyton's got them all. He's talented, and he'll handle the inferno of going to a 3-13 team. He's a sure player." - then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers director of scouting Jerry Angelo to Sports Illustrated before the draft

The result: Manning retired in 2016, immediately after winning his second Super Bowl championship. He retired holding the NFL's career records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offense, game-winning drives, comebacks and more. Pretty decent.

9. Stephen Strasburg

The San Diego State pitcher was the No. 1 overall draft pick of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft, selected by the Washington Nationals.

(Graphic by Steven Ruiz; Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY)

The hype: Strasburg showed up to the 2008 Olympics as the only amateur on the U.S. baseball team. He allowed one hit in seven innings in his first start, and the hype was building steam. He then went 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 109 innings as a junior in college. The hype had left the yard. Strasburg had four out pitches, could hit 100 mph and never walked anyone. He had the 6-4 frame and the work ethic that allowed him to go from chubby minor recruit to best pitcher in college baseball. Baseball scouts usually are skeptical about pitching prospects, but Strasburg hardly qualified as a prospect; he was MLB-ready by the time of his draft.

The quote: "Stephen Strasburg is the best amateur pitcher I've ever seen, and I think he did a great job of pulling the draft into prime time. I'm not just talking TV prime time. The draft was important last year because Stephen Strasburg headlined it." - then-Los Angeles Angels scouting director Eddie Bane a year after the draft

The result: A year after being drafted, Strasburg made his major-league debut and struck out 14 in seven innings. A month after that, the injuries started. His rookie season ended with Tommy John surgery, and he spent the ensuing seasons on pitch counts and innings watches. Now past that point though still bothered by occasional injuries, Strasburg has become one of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball if not quite a top-10 ace.

8. Anthony Davis

The Kentucky forward was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, selected by the New Orleans Hornets.

The hype: Davis scored six points on 1-for-10 shooting in his final college game. And he completely dominated it. If anything, Davis' performance in the national championship against Kansas solidified his stature among NBA scouts; he recorded 16 rebounds, six blocks, five assists and three steals that meant so much more than his six points. Davis had already won most player of the year awards anyway. His mix of guard skills developed in his early teens, 6-10 size developed in a late growth spurt and elite, elite athleticism seemingly developed in a lab had scouts wondering if he might be Kevin Garnett with elite shot-blocking skills to boot. It helped further that the rest of the 2012 NBA Draft mostly was seen as a dud.

The quote: "Davis will be the No. 1 pick in the draft, and once he gets into the NBA, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with - on both ends of the floor. But he'll always be a team player who doesn't demand the ball. He wants to win basketball games, period, and he'll do whatever he's asked to make sure that happens." - NBA.com scouting report before the draft

The result: Thanks to a proneness to minor injuries, Davis has yet to play a full season. But he has career averages of 22.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks a game over five years, and that scoring average shot up thanks to his 28 a game this season. He's viewed as one of the two or three best players under 25 in the NBA, though much of his stock hinges on whether the now-Pelicans can figure out who to play next to him.

7. Greg Oden

The Ohio State center was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, selected by the Portland Trail Blazers.

The hype: If you haven't read the Kevin Durant section (No. 11), go read that. Then realize that Oden was selected ahead of Durant, and nearly every evaluator of NBA talent agreed with the decision. Oden was the best true center prospect to come along since Shaquille O'Neal. He was being compared favorably to Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon. A broken hand had somehow improved his stock, as he proved competent even shooting one-handed free throws. Any lingering doubts over Oden vs. Durant were quelled when Oden put up 25 points (on 10-for-15 shooting), 12 rebounds and four blocks in the national championship game against defending champion Florida, which had Joakim Noah and Al Horford manning the paint. He was a guaranteed star. There was no downside.

The quote: "Greg Oden is the next Bill Russell." - NBA.com's Maurice Brooks before the draft

The result: Injuries. All of them, seemingly. He had surgeries on both knees, including a microfracture surgery that fewer and fewer NBA players opt for now because of its damaging effects on careers. He had back issues, ankle issues, wrist issues. He missed his entire rookie year, then only played 82 games total over the next two - though he looked excellent in his 21-game second season - then missed three more years before his final NBA shot, in 2013-14 with the defending champion Miami Heat. In those years between stints, he pleaded guilty to battery of an ex-girlfriend and faced depression.

6. Connor McDavid

The Erie Otters center was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, selected by the Edmonton Oilers.

The hype: It's tough to put a peg on when everyone knew. Certainly, by 2013, when McDavid was 16, everyone knew. (See the quote below.) By 2015, everyone had known for so long that some people even tried to second-guess it, as is often the case with players on this list; Peyton Manning (No. 10) is the best example. But no one could. McDavid had it all: absurd speed, great puck control and a passing touch that rivaled the best the NHL had to offer. A year into McDavid's NHL career, Wayne Gretzky called him the best teenage hockey player he'd ever seen. No one would have been surprised by that praise before the draft, either.

The quote: "There's a young man by the name of Connor McDavid who is coming up in two years. Well, he's a franchise player. Somebody is going to draft him and he's going to be the cornerstone of the franchise for 15 years, for 20 years. Those players only come along so often." - Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill to NHL.com in November 2013

The result: McDavid has 148 points in his first 127 NHL regular-season games. He's turned the downtrodden Oilers into a playoff team in his second season, and it might have come sooner had he not missed 37 games as a rookie. He led the NHL in points and assists this season. He's 20.

5. Andrew Luck

The Stanford quarterback was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, selected by the Indianapolis Colts.

The hype: Luck would have been the No. 1 overall pick in 2011, ahead of even Cam Newton, who barely missed out on this list. But he chose to return to school, which often can be a mistake for a college football player. All that happened was he got even better, throwing for more yards and touchdowns with a better completion percentage. By the end of his junior year, Luck had shown literally no flaws as a prospect. He had the exact combination of skills, smarts and style that NFL teams desire in quarterbacks, and even a Heisman Trophy-winning, track-running Robert Griffin III couldn't challenge him atop the draft board.

The quote: "It is seemingly unanimous among NFL scouts and front-office personnel that Stanford redshirt junior Andrew Luck is the top quarterback prospect to come along in the past 30 years, a once-in-a-generation player almost guaranteed to become an immediate star at the next level. So what makes Luck so special? Everything." - ESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay before the draft

The result: With great hype comes great expectations. Luck has a 43-27 career record. He led the NFL in touchdowns in his third season, when he also led the Colts to the AFC championship game (which turned into Deflategate, but let's not get caught up in things). By almost every measure, he was one of last season's five best quarterbacks, and QBs tend to peak later than any other position. Basically, there's still a very good chance that Luck will be the best quarterback in the NFL within the next five seasons, for all the criticism he's taken.

4. Tim Duncan

The Wake Forest forward/center was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1997 NBA Draft, selected by the San Antonio Spurs.

The hype: The 1996-97 NBA season featured two certitudes: The Bulls were going to win the championship again - they went 69-13 after going 72-10 the previous year - and Tim Duncan was going to be the No. 1 overall pick. Those two worked together to create a tanking situation unlike any other in the lottery era. The Spurs, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Vancouver Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets all played the odds and took a stab at the arguably biggest draft lottery prize ever. Duncan was such a lock to be No. 1 for three reasons: 1) He would have been the top pick in 1995 or 1996, too, but he kept returning to school; 2) The 1997 draft class was unusually weak; and 3) He was really, really good. As a senior and the consensus national player of the year and defensive player of the year, Duncan averaged 20.8 points, 14.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.3 blocks a game and shot 60.8% from the field. Not only was he a prototype superstar big man, but he also was a ridiculously polished prototype superstar big man.

The quote: "Pop is the luckiest man alive." - then-TNT analyst Doc Rivers on Spurs coach and president Gregg Popovich after San Antonio won the draft lottery

The result: Success is putting it lightly. Duncan played 19 seasons for the Spurs, retiring after last season with five championships and zero seasons with a winning percentage below .610 (50-32). He ranks among the 10 greatest players in NBA history. And he kept Gregg Popovich employed through it all, so Rivers had a point.

3. Sidney Crosby

The Rimouski Océanic center was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The hype: There was no 2004-05 NHL season, thanks to a lockout. That led to the top pick being determined through an all-teams-included lottery, with odds based on teams' records and past draft lottery luck over the previous four years. This unique circumstance became known as the "Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes" because there was a greater chance that the next season would be canceled, too, than that any other player would be selected first overall. Depending on who you're talking to, Crosby was the best hockey prospect since Eric Lindros, Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky. His Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team, the Océanic, went 35 consecutive games without a loss in his second season with them, while he totaled 186 points in 62 games. He had been the top player in his age group since he was a preteen. Crosby's only real shortcoming was his 5-11 height, and he figured out ways to use that to his advantage, too.

The quote: "Yeah, he's the real deal." - Penguins head scout Greg Malone upon seeing Crosby at age 14, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The result: Despite a broken foot, a concussion and a serious neck injury in his early 20s, Crosby still is the best player in the NHL. He's led the Penguins to two Stanley Cup championships. He's won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP twice and the Pearson Trophy as the players' choice MVP three times. He's led the NHL in points twice, goals twice and assists once, and he's sixth in NHL history in points per game, behind Gretzky, Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Bobby Orr and Marcel Dione. USA TODAY Sports' veteran hockey columnist Kevin Allen ranks Crosby as the 14th greatest player in NHL history. He's 29.

2. Bryce Harper

The College of Southern Nevada catcher and outfielder was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft, selected by the Washington Nationals.

The hype: A baseball prospect should not be this high on this list. No sport has a greater gap between the levels of college (or high school) play and top-level pro play, which is why the minor league system is so extensive. Most college hitters still use metal bats. Harper was the exception to every rule. He was named high school player of the year by Baseball America as a sophomore. He received his GED at age 17 in order to play a season of junior college ball - in a wood-bat league. He played catcher to prove he could, because it was the more difficult position to master. He dominated to the point that he became the first JUCO player in 20 years to win the Golden Spikes Award, given to the best college baseball player. Harper spent his life trying to become the best baseball prospect ever, and he somehow succeeded. Sports Illustrated tabbed him as Baseball's Chosen One at 16. It didn't feel like an exaggeration.

The quote: "Be in the Hall of Fame, definitely. Play in Yankee Stadium. Play in the pinstripes. Be considered the greatest baseball player who ever lived. I can't wait." - Harper to SI at age 16 on his career goals

The result: Harper is 24 and already starting his sixth MLB season. The results: Rookie of the Year, underwhelming second season, injured third season, National League MVP fourth season, underwhelming fifth season, jaw-dropping start to his sixth season. Perhaps the most difficult hurdle for Harper has been the presence of Mike Trout, a player who is accomplishing everything Harper was expected to do and is only 14 months older. But Harper at his best - his MVP season of 2015 and the start of this one - has been Trout's equal, and he's still on track to at least be in the mix for that Hall of Fame prediction.

1. LeBron James

The St. Vincent-St. Mary's (Ohio) forward was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft, selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The hype: The easiest pick on this list. In the history of the NBA, only one player - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then Lew Alcindor - has measured up to James as a high school player or as a draft prospect. James would have been the No. 1 overall pick after his junior year of high school. He might have even made a run at it after his sophomore year, when he was the first 10th grader ever on USA TODAY Sports' All-USA First Team. He finished high school with a 101-6 record, three state championships and no doubt that he was the most hyped high schooler ever. (Keep in mind that the internet didn't exist in the 1960s, when Alcindor was dominating.) The beauty of James' hype was more than accolades, though. He wowed with his pristine passing ability and the way he made everyone around him better. That, plus his 6-8 frame, led many to label him as Magic Johnson with elite scoring ability. He also came along at the exact perfect time, with fellow preps-to-pros players Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady hitting their peaks and most people still not calling players such as Darius Miles and Kwame Brown busts. Then you add in that the nearby Cavaliers won an absurdly hyped draft lottery, and everything worked out.

The quote: "There's nobody on either side of basketball, college or pro, who doesn't think he's great." - NBA general manager to ESPN.com before the draft

The result: Well, he's LeBron James. He's been the best basketball player in the world for more than half of his 14-year NBA career. He's won three championships and four MVPs, yet both of those seem lower than they should be. That's how high the bar is, yet he keeps reaching it every time it moves. If he's not better than Michael Jordan, his idol, then he's the best since. And at age 32 and still able to post career highs in rebounds and assists per game this season, he looks to still have another six to 10 seasons left. One thing we've learned: Never count out LeBron James.

Contributing: Steven Ruiz, Chris Korman, Charles Curtis, other For The Win staff members.