Star columnist Greg Hansen counts down the most prominent sports figures in Southern Arizona from 2018. Find out who makes the cut.
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.
Mike Christy / Arizona Daily StarIn 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.
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.
Ron Schwane / Associated Press
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.
Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
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.
Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press
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.
Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
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.
David Zalubowski / Associated Press
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.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
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.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Andy Trouard added the 3,000 to two national cross country titles.
NAU Athletics
Former Wildcats standout George Cunningham is making a name for himself on the Canadian Tour.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star 2015An 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.
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.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
DeAndre Ayton gets ready for a photo during his first Phoenix Suns Media Day at the Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Head coach Brian Peabody bumps fists with forward Robert Wilson at last year’s rally for the Pima men’s basketball team. The Aztecs return to the national championships after finishing second last season.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star 2018
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.
Bruce Kluckhohn / Associated PressIn his third season as Green Bay’s starting middle linebacker, the CDO and Stanford grad shined. Martinez is ranked No. 2 in the NFL with 132 tackles through Dec. 23; his total of 276 tackles the last two seasons is tops in pro football.
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.
Doug Murray / Icon Sportswire
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.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
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.
Patrick Breen / The Arizona Republic
Women's golf coach Laura Ianello led the Wildcats to the NCAA title in 2018 and signed a five-year contract extension through 2026.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily StarArizona’s women’s 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
Columnist
Star columnist Greg Hansen counts down the most prominent sports figures in Tucson and the surrounding region to ring in the new year. Here's …
Star columnist Greg Hansen counts down the most prominent sports figures in Southern Arizona from 2018. Find out who makes the cut.
Star columnist Greg Hansen counts down the most prominent sports figures in Southern Arizona from 2018. Find out who makes the cut.
Star columnist Greg Hansen counts down the most prominent sports figures in Southern Arizona from 2018. Find out who makes the cut.
Star columnist Greg Hansen counts down the most prominent sports figures in Southern Arizona from 2018. Find out who makes the cut.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.
