NBA: Boston Celtics
Age: 20
2017 Ranking: 16
Tatum, a 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year Finalist, broke onto the NBA scene this past season with an impressive playoff performance. High rankings in search interest and his popularity on Instagram skyrocketed Tatum to the top of our 2018 list.
CHARGE Score: 28.65
NBA: Dallas Mavericks
Age: 19
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Dončić, the 3rd overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft and 2018 EuroLeague MVP, dominated the headlines lately, leading him to the #2 spot on our rankings. While he doesn’t top the list on social media, he has an above-average showing on each platform.
CHARGE Score: 46.05
Gymnastics: Team USA
Age: 21
2017 Ranking: 11
Biles, a four-time gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, hasn't lost any steam in the years since she dominated the Games. Biles ranked in the top 5 in social media followers across every social platform and was also bolstered by strong search interest.
CHARGE Score: 60.50
Gymnastics: Team USA
Age: 24
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Raisman, a three-time Olympic Gold medalist (and Rio teammate of #3 Simone Biles), shares her teammate's skill for social media. Search interest also factored into her jump to #4: as a vocal figure in the USA Gymnastics scandal, Raisman has consistently been in the news.
CHARGE Score: 63.25
NBA: Philadelphia Sixers
Age: 24
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Embiid, a 2018 NBA All-Star, is becoming a social media star. Known for his antics, Embiid ranks in the top 15 for every social platform and also ranks in the top 10 of search interest, in part because of his posts going viral and his willingness to engage other athletes.
CHARGE Score: 77.50
MMA: UFC
Age: 24
2017 Ranking: 19
VanZant, a professional MMA fighter since 2012, doesn't just perform well in the Octagon. She also dominates across a variety of different social platforms. VanZant’s social media following helped her climb into the top 10 this year, despite her recent injury.
CHARGE Score: 79.90
NBA: Phoenix Suns
Age: 21
2017 Ranking: 14
Booker, who recently signed a $158 million contract, has a well-rounded digital presence. His consistency across all measures helps him best athletes stronger in one area or another. Multiple top-10 finishes in social media helped him climb even higher this year.
CHARGE Score: 80.65
NBA: Philadelphia Sixers
Age: 20
2017 Ranking: 7
Fultz, the 1st overall pick from the 2017 NBA Draft, only played in three games during his rookie season. Due to a lingering injury that prevented him from playing, he dominated the NBA headlines. That continued conversation helped Fultz keep a top-10 ranking.
CHARGE Score: 86.10
NFL: Dallas Cowboys
Age: 23
2017 Ranking: 2
Elliott, the 2016 NFL rushing leader, leads the field in Twitter followers and also performs well on Instagram. This, combined with the headlines surrounding his suspension last season, kept him as the top ranked NFL player and in our top 10.
CHARGE Score: 88.20
NFL: Baltimore Ravens
Age: 21
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Jackson, a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and 2016 Heisman Trophy winner, rounds out the top 10 of our rankings. While he doesn’t stand out in one particular area, Jackson has above-average performance in both social media and search interest.
CHARGE Score: 88.40
NBA: Charlotte Hornets
Age: 20
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Bridges, a first-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, is another member of the CHARGE 25 with a well-rounded digital presence. While he may not stand out in any one category, his strong all-around brand effort, as well as the recent Draft coverage, helped him earn #11.
CHARGE Score: 92.65
NBA: Indiana Pacers
Age: 22
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Turner, the second Myles (albeit spelled differently) on our list and former first-round pick, upgraded his digital presence since last year’s 25 Under 25. Turner is one of the few newcomers to the list who was eligible in 2017 but didn’t quite make the cut.
CHARGE Score: 95.70
NBA: New York Knicks
Age: 22
2017 Ranking: 9
Porzingis, a 2018 NBA All-Star, played in just over half of the season for the Knicks due to an injury. Despite this, he used the power of social media to maintain a top-15 ranking on our list. The Latvian star's social popularity is doubly impressive due to his bilingual posting.
CHARGE Score: 100.55
NBA: Atlanta Hawks
Age: 19
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Young, the 5th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, became an instant sensation while playing for the Oklahoma Sooners this past season. This helped him earn high marks in search interest and led him to the 14th spot on our list.
CHARGE Score: 100.60
NBA: Utah Jazz
Age: 21
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Mitchell, a 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year Finalist, took the league by storm this past season by becoming one of the best rookies in the league and leading his team to the playoffs. Led by his strong search interest, Mitchell rounds out our top 15.
CHARGE Score: 101.00
Skiing: Team USA
Age: 23
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic Gold medalist, came into this year’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang as one of the most talked-about athletes. Shiffrin tied atop our list as the most searched athlete, while also having a formidable Facebook presence.
CHARGE Score: 105.95
NBA: Boston Celtics
Age: 24
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Smart, a former top 10 overall pick in the NBA Draft, has been in the headlines recently for both his play in the NBA Playoffs and upcoming free agency. With above average rankings in both social and search interest, Smart has a well-rounded digital presence.
CHARGE Score: 108.85
NBA: Chicago Bulls
Age: 23
2017 Ranking: 23
LaVine, a former lottery pick in the NBA Draft, benefitted from traditional media coverage, with news circulating about his impending free agency and his injury recovery. LaVine’s solid performance on social media helped propel him up our list.
CHARGE Score: 110.40
NFL: New York Giants
Age: 21
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Barkley, the 2nd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, had a highlight-filled season at Penn State prior to being drafted. Thus, Barkley dominated much of the traditional media and search interest surrounding the draft, leading him to the 19th spot.
CHARGE Score: 112.80
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers
Age: 23
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Kuzma, a member of the 2018 NBA All-Rookie First Team, had a stand out rookie season, helping to boost his social following and news coverage. While one statistic doesn’t stick out, Kuzma used his overall strong digital presence to land at #20.
CHARGE Score: 112.95
NFL: Cleveland Browns
Age: 23
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Mayfield, the 1st overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, lands just behind the 2nd overall pick of the 2018 Draft (funny, right?). Mayfield led his Oklahoma Sooners to the CFB Playoff. He is also tied for the most searched athlete in our ranking, landing him in the top 25.
CHARGE Score: 114.60
NBA: New Orleans Pelicans
Age: 23
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Randle, a former top-10 pick in the NBA Draft, combined his breakout season with his impending free agency to increase his search interest. Randle has spent years investing in social media, dating back to his days at the University of Kentucky.
CHARGE Score: 118.35
NFL: Dallas Cowboys
Age: 24
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Prescott, the starting quarterback for the NFL’s most valuable and popular franchise, broke onto the scene during his 2016 rookie season. Prescott is near the top of the list across social media platforms, in addition to generating strong search interest
CHARGE Score: 119.10
NBA: Philadelphia Sixers
Age: 22
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Simmons, the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year, took the league by storm this season and helped lead his team to the NBA Playoffs. Earning top rankings in search interest and a growing social media presence, Simmons makes the cut.
CHARGE Score: 119.10
NBA: Dallas Mavericks
Age: 20
2017 Ranking: Not Ranked
Smith Jr., a member of the 2018 NBA All-Rookie Second Team, was a top 10 pick in last year’s draft. His viral dunk videos and impressive rookie campaign led to a diverse digital presence that earned him the final spot in our top 25.
CHARGE Score: 119.80
