Greg Hansen's Top 100 Sports Figures of 2018: 20-1
-
Greg Hansen
Columnist
- Updated
Star columnist Greg Hansen counts down the most prominent sports figures in Southern Arizona from 2018. Find out who makes the cut.
20. Jacqulynn Nakai
Updated
Jacqulynn Nakai lines up a shot during the Pima Community College Aztecs women's basketball team practice at the west campus on Jan. 4, 2018, in Tucson.
In her freshman season at Pima College, the point guard from Flagstaff was named the ACCAC Player of the Year and a first-team NJCAA Division II All-American, averaging 17.7 points for a 23-9 team. Nakai averaged 22.2 points through the first six weeks of this season.
19. Levi Wallace
Updated
FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) stiff-arms Buffalo Bills defensive back Levi Wallace (47) during the second half of an NFL football preseason game, in Cleveland. Mayfield has worked hard, played well enough and seems to understand he needs to be patient while learning behind Tyrod Taylor.
18. J.J. Taylor
Updated
Arizona Wildcats running back J.J. Taylor (21) evades Arizona State's Dasmond Tautalatasi during the third quarter of the Territorial Cup, Nov. 24, 2018, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson.
17. Haley Moore
Updated
Arizona's Haley Moore watches her shot from the fourth tee during the final round of the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, May 23, 2018.
16. Bijan Robinson
Updated
Salpointe Catholic running back Bijan Robinson (5) dispatches of Scottsdale Saguaro's Bryan Deboard (12) during the second quarter of the Salpointe Catholic vs. Scottsdale Saguaro 4A state championship football game, Nov. 30, 2018, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.
15. Bryce Cotton
Updated
Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris, left, defends as Perth guard Bryce Cotton passes the ball during the first half of an NBA exhibition basketball game Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, in Denver.
14. Jordan Geist
Updated
Jordan Geist takes his second attempt at the shot put at the University of Arizona's Winter All-Comers Meet at Drachman Stadium, Saturday, December 8, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
13. Bob Hoffman
Updated
Bob Hoffman, team president, is all smiles as he listens to Adrian Denny, the Voice of the Roadrunners, speak during the second annual Tucson Roadrunners Faceoff Luncheon at the Tucson Convention Center on October 2, 2018.
12. Andy Trouard
Updated
Andy Trouard added the 3,000 to two national cross country titles.
11. George Cunningham
Updated
Former Wildcats standout George Cunningham is making a name for himself on the Canadian Tour.
An All-Pac-12 first team golfer as a UA senior, the Tucson product then stepped it up a notch, finishing No. 2 on the Canadian Tour money list. He earned more than $65,000 in two PGA Tour events, clinching his Web.com Tour card for the 2019 season.
10. Sarah Sellers
Updated
Sarah Sellers, a nurse anesthetist CRNA, at Banner-University Medical Center, talks about her second-place finish at the Boston Marathon during a press conference at on April 19, 2018.
9. Bianca Pagdanganan
Updated8. Deandre Ayton
Updated
DeAndre Ayton gets ready for a photo during his first Phoenix Suns Media Day at the Talking Stick Resort Arena.
7. Brian Peabody
Updated
Head coach Brian Peabody bumps fists with forward Robert Wilson at last yearโs rally for the Pima menโs basketball team. The Aztecs return to the national championships after finishing second last season.
6. Blake Martinez
Updated
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs from Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Blake Martinez (50) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Minneapolis.
In his third season as Green Bayโs starting middle linebacker, the CDO and Stanford grad shined.ย Martinez is ranked No. 2ย in the NFL with 132 tackles through Dec. 23; his total of 276ย tackles the last two seasons is tops in pro football.
5. Craig Bjornson
Updated
Houston Astros Bullpen Coach Craig Bjornson (52) talks with Houston Astros Non-Roster Invitee Pitcher Brian Holmes (70), Houston Astros Non-Roster Invitee Pitcher C.J. Riefenhauser (58) and other players on the field during a Houston Astros spring training workout at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 18, 2017.
4. Dave Cosgrove
Updated
Dave Cosgrove talks to the press after being announced at a conference at the new coach for FC Tucson, Wednesday, February 21, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
3. Roman Bravo-Young
Updated
Sunnyside's Roman Bravo-Young celebrates beating Mesa's Steven Jaman in the Division I, 132-pound weight class, during the AIA State Wrestling Championships at the Prescott Valley Event Center on Feb. 9, 2018.
2. Hugo Kametani
Updated1. Laura Ianello
Updated
Women's golf coach Laura Ianello led the Wildcats to the NCAA title in 2018 and signed a five-year contract extension through 2026.ย
Arizonaโs womenโs golf coach piloted her team to the NCAA championship.
MORE: From 'no chance' to national champ, Laura Ianello is No. 1 sports figure of 2018
Check out the rest of Greg Hansen's Top 100 Sports Figures of 2018 below
UpdatedGreg Hansen
Columnist
