The next Lebron

The next Lebron (James) doesn't even play basketball? Hmm, that's odd. The next Lebron, like Lebron, more than likely will never go to college before a pro career. The next Lebron, according to this week's Sports Illustrated, is a 16 year old high school baseball player from Las Vegas.

The next Lebron James is Bryce Harper.

Harper, a catcher, throws 96, right handed, bats left and routinely hits 500 foot homeruns. He travels all over the country participating on weekend travel teams, all-star games, pro-draft days and USA Baseball tryouts. Harper who is being advised by mega agent Scott Boras is thinking about earning his GED this summer so he can play junior college ball and become eligible for next years MLB draft instead of 2011.

Here we go again. This time a sensational high school baseball player is being labeled as the next best thing. Heck this time he's not even being compared to another baseball player. He's being compared to an NBA player who just won his first MVP but has yet to win a championship.

I hate to see kids get labeled this way so early. Yes the talent and potential are there. He's not only dominating average high school players but the best of the best between 16 and 19 years of age.

Before he punches his ticket to Cooperstown (like one Yahoo Sports blogger says) , realize things happen along the way , both good and bad.

A little over 10 years ago an article appeared in Sports Illustrated telling us about this can't miss prospect. A freak if you will. A down-to-earth teenager wanting to do nothing but play baseball. A lefthander who could throw 96 and hit for power to all fields. He could run and was outstanding defensively.

Well this can't miss prospect was Josh Hamilton. Hamilton was the #1 draft choice in 1999 by Tampa Bay and received a nearly $4 million signing bonus. The golden boy of baseball in 1999 was out of baseball in 2002, a drug addict and almost broke. Hamilton has since turned his life around, is sober and completed his first full season in the bigs last year (156 games, 32 HR, 130 RBI, .304 BA).

Talent doesn't mean success. Talent doesn't mean no personal problems. Talent doesn't mean injury free. The money, fame and pressure are too much to handle for some, no matter how well rounded they seem.

Hamilton turned his life around. Hopefully Harper never goes through anything like that. I say let these kids accomplish something before anointing them the best or the next so and so.

As a baseball fan I want to see someone so gifted take the field and become the best. In 10 years I would love to be talking about Bryce Harper and the records he may break. I don't want to hear someone calling him a “bust” because the game isn't as easy as it is when he was 16.

Good luck Bryce Harper. A conversation or two with Josh Hamilton might be a start.