Where Will They Be?
Joey Logano
17 Auto Racer, Concord, N.C.
ACHIEVEMENTS Competing in the NASCAR Grand National Division, Logano won threeof his first four races this spring, including a 2.5-second victory over NextelCup driver Kevin Harvick at the Featherlite Coaches 200, where they swapped thelead 15 times. Raised in Middletown, Conn., Logano signed a seven-year contractwith Joe Gibbs Racing in September 2005 and is in its driver developmentprogram.
REMINISCENT OF?Mark Martin. Since seeing Logano race when he was 11, Martin, with 35 careerwins, has served as his mentor.
COACH'S COMMENT"It comes so naturally to him," says Mike McLaughlin, who coaches inGibbs's developmental program. "He just needs more experience."
ETA In Nextel Cupby 2010. Logano figures he's at least three years away, but McLaughlin thinkshe could race when he reaches the NASCAR minimum age of 18.
LanceStephenson
16 GUARD,Brooklyn
ACHIEVEMENTS Atwo-time All-New York City selection, the 6' 6", 205-pound Stephenson hasled Lincoln High to two straight public school city championships and thisyear's state title. Stephenson, rated as high as the No. 2 recruit in the classof 2009, averaged 24.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists as asophomore.
REMINISCENT OF?Kobe Bryant. Though it's tempting to compare Stephenson with Lincoln pointguard alums Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, his size and scoring abilityare more Kobe-esque. "I'm watching YouTube, other games and players to seewhat I can do better," says Stephenson. "If it is something new, then Ilike to try it."
COACH'S COMMENT"Ball handling is the next thing for him to conquer," says coach DwayneMorton. "Once he gets the handle set, he'll be dangerous."
ETA In the NBA by2010. Stephenson should have his pick of colleges--there's no front-runneryet--but his game and body will be NBA-ready after just one year.
Felicia Lee
15 SWIMMER,Towson, Md.
ACHIEVEMENTSBefore her birthday in May, Lee ranked first in the 13-14 age group in threeevents: 100 and 200 butterfly, and 400 individual medley. As a 13-year-old in2006 she won gold in the 100 fly (59.72 seconds) at the U.S. springchampionships.
REMINISCENT OF?Katie Hoff, for her fierce practice mentality more than for her swimming style.That's understandable: Lee and Hoff, a six-time world champion, are trainingpartners at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where Michael Phelps is also amember.
COACH'S COMMENT"Felicia has a really great ability to catch the water with her feet andpropel herself," says coach Paul Yetter.
ETA At the 2008Beijing Olympics, where her best chance is the 100 fly. "She can be astaple on the national team for, shoot, who knows how long?" Yetter says."Five, eight, 15 years--however long she wants to swim."
Bryce &Arthur Brown
16 and 17 RUNNINGBACK AND LINEBACKER, Wichita, Kans.
ACHIEVEMENTSArthur Jr. (right), a 6´1˝, 210-pound linebacker at East High, is Scout.com'sNo. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2008. Bryce, a 6-foot, 215-poundrunning back with the Blue Aces, was named EA Sports' national sophomoreof the year.
REMINISCENT OF?Arthur has been likened to Lions linebacker Ernie Sims. His younger brotherdraws comparisons with Vikings first-round pick Adrian Peterson and Wichitanative Barry Sanders.
COACH'S COMMENTScott Vang, former East coach, on Arthur: "He is as fast as most runningbacks. No one can break his tackles." On Bryce: "His competitive fireis scary sometimes."
ETA Arthur in theNFL by 2011, and Bryce in 2012. Arthur lists 23 potential colleges. The coachesrecruiting Arthur are also pursuing Bryce, who could follow his brother if thefit is right.
HaroldMartinez
17 SHORTSTOP,Miami
ACHIEVEMENTSPerfect Game's top infield recruit in the class of 2008, Martinez batted .500as a junior for Braddock High with a .900 slugging percentage, 26 RBIs and 12stolen bases. His throws to first base have been clocked at 94 mph.
REMINISCENT OF?Alex Rodriguez. To whom else should you compare a 6´3˝ power-hitting shortstopfrom Miami? "I coached against Alex Rodriguez [in high school]," sayscoach Manny Fernandez. "There are a lot of similarities, and I think Haroldhas the better arm right now."
COACH'S COMMENT"He probably can't bench-press 150 pounds right now because he hasn'tdeveloped his upper-body strength, [but] he hits balls that you've just got tosee," says Fernandez. "When [his strength] catches up, he's going to bea terror."
ETA In the majorsby 2011. "My son and I were watching the draft," Fernandez says,"and I said to him, 'Next year we're going to be doing this at Harold'shouse.'"
Carissa Moore
14 SURFER,Honolulu
ACHIEVEMENTS Inthe Roxy Pro Gold Coast competition in March, Moore defeated seven-time worldchampion Layne Beachley in two head-to-head heats. Moore already has a recordnine National Scholastic Surfing Association titles.
REMINISCENT OF?Kelly Slater. Says Lisa Anderson, a four-time world surfing champion and amentor to Moore, "She does tricks that girls don't usually try."
COACH'S COMMENT"Carissa was on a board before she could remember she was on a board,"says Chris Moore, her father and coach. "She took to it right away. She hada good sense of balance and movement very early."
ETA On the ASPworld tour by 2010--as soon as she finishes at Honolulu's Punahou School.
Andrew Yun &Richard Lee
Both 16 GOLFERS,Chandler, Ariz.
ACHIEVEMENTS Lee(right) and Yun, ranked first and third, respectively, among high schoolsophomores by Golfweek, led Hamilton High to a state championship, with Leewinning the individual title and Yun finishing third overall. Lee alsoqualified for the U.S. Open through the U.S. Junior Amateur. (He was 20over par after 32 holes at Oakmont when he withdrew with a wrist injury.)
REMINISCENT OF?Says Hamilton coach Steve Kanner, "I felt like I was the golf coach at theUniversity of Texas [in 1971 and '72] with Richard Lee as Ben Crenshaw andAndrew Yun as Tom Kite."
COACH'S COMMENTKanner on Lee: ""Tiger intimidates people he plays with; Richard hasthat kind of persona. He just exudes talent and ability." On Yun: "He'sextraordinarily consistent. He hardly ever has a bad hole."
ETA Lee on thePGA Tour by 2009; Yun by '11. Lee turned pro after the U.S. Open; he can't tryfor a PGA Tour card until he is 18, but will play in Nationwide tour events andaccept PGA sponsors' exemptions. Yun plans to go to college, but says, "Howmany years of college, I'm not sure."
AnastasiaPavlyuchenkova
16 TENNIS PLAYER,Samara, Russia
ACHIEVEMENTSWinner of the 2006 U.S. Open junior girls' championship and the '06 and '07Australian Open junior titles, Pavlyuchenkova is the world's top-rated juniorplayer. She received a wild card to compete in this year's Wimbledon. "I'mso excited that I got a wild card for the main tour," says Pavlyuchenkova."I didn't expect that at all."
REMINISCENT OF?Maria Sharapova. Pavlyuchenkova may not be quite as quick as the reigning U.S.Open champion, but the 5' 9" player packs a similar wallop to her 6' 2"countrywoman.
COACH'S COMMENTAnastasia is coached by her father, Sergey, and her brother, Aleksandr, whowrote in a jointly composed e-mail that they hope to escalate her training and"want her to be the best in the world."
ETA On the WTATour in 2008. After playing in the junior U.S. Open in September, she says shewill try to play in more professional tournaments.
Rynell Parson
16 SPRINTER, SanAntonio
ACHIEVEMENTSParson, who will be a junior at John Paul Stevens High, ran the year's fastesttime for high schoolers in the 100 meters (10.23 seconds) at the USA JuniorNationals in Indianapolis on June 21.
REMINISCENT OF?Maurice Greene. At 5' 8" and 150 pounds, Parson has the frame, but not yetthe muscles, of Greene, the 5'9", 165-pound former world record holder inthe 100. Like Greene, Parson is a standout on the high school gridiron--heplays wide receiver and kick returner.
COACH'S COMMENT"He's got a lot of talent and does a lot with it," says Greg Felux."With his work ethic, the sky's the limit as his body gets bigger andstronger."
ETA A fixture inworld competition by the end of the decade and in the Olympics by 2012."I'd love to make it in '08," says Parson of the Beijing Games,"but I'm only going to be 17. It'll be real difficult."
Kelsey Bone
15 CENTER, SugarLand, Texas
ACHIEVEMENTS The6´4˝, 220-pound sophomore averaged 16.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.5 assistsand 1.54 blocks for Dulles High. Rated a five-star recruit by Scout.com, Kelseywas named all-state and a fourth-team Parade All-America.
REMINISCENT OF?Shaquille O'Neal. "I like to make the paint my home," Bone says. Thecomparison extends to the free throw line, where she shot 49.7% last season."Oh, God, my free throws are atrocious," she says. "I've beenworking on that."
COACH'S COMMENT"She's pretty rugged," says Doug Lechtenberger. "She's got realgood feet and real good hands. Most kids that big aren't coordinated at thatage."
ETA In the WNBAby 2013 after playing for a major college program. Asked who's recruiting Bone,Lechtenberger says, "It's probably what schools aren't looking at herthat's the question."
Collin Palmer
17 WRESTLER,Columbia Station, Ohio
ACHIEVEMENTS Inhis first two years at wrestling powerhouse St. Edward High, Palmer won statechampionships at 112 and 125 pounds. With a 78-2 career record and 43 pins, hefinished his sophomore season ranked No. 4 nationally at 125, trailing onlyupperclassmen. REMINISCENT OF? Roger Chandler, a three-time All-America atIndiana (1995-97) and a St. Edward grad. "Collin is brutal on top,just like Roger was," says St. Edward coach Greg Urbas.
COACH'S COMMENT"He's got the complete package: a love of the sport, tremendous techniqueand knowledge, great power and endurance," Urbas says. "He's a hammerright now."
ETA A collegeAll-America in 2010. He'll be just a freshman, but Palmer's older brother Lancemade All-America at 149 pounds this year as a freshman at Ohio State.
EIGHT PHOTOS
PHOTOGRAPHS BY Al Tielemans
TWO PHOTOS
RICH FRISHMAN (YUN); GENE LOWER (LEE); PHOTO COMPOSITE BY SI IMAGING
PHOTO
BOB MARTIN (PAVLYUCHENKOVA)