Hank Aaron is widely regarded as one of the most influential baseball players of all time. On the field, he set numerous records, including career runs batted in (2,297), total bases (6,856) and extra-base hits (1,477). He also won a World Series title in 1957 with the Milwaukee Braves.
During his career with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1974, a milestone that required immense mental strength as he faced numerous racist threats.
“He put his head down and worked, and blocking out all the noise, he proved everyone wrong,” McAllister said.
Aaron retired in 1976 after 23 seasons. Beyond baseball, he was also a civil rights advocate who broke barriers during his MLB career and cemented his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Lewis Hamilton is one of, if not the greatest, Formula 1 driver of all time with seven world championships. Hamilton would start his career at McLaren in 2007. As a rookie, he contended for the title by losing by only one point and having the greatest rookie season in F1 history. Hamilton would later win in 2008 and join Mercedes in 2013. From there, Hamilton would cement his legacy as one of the greatest in the sport. Lewis won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. After losing his title to teammate Nico Rosenberg in 2016, he would win four straight titles from 2017 to 2020, winning seven in total. Despite a controversial finish in 2021, when he lost the title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, he has consistently been one of the best drivers on the grid, with him signing with Ferrari in 2025. Hamilton also holds multiple records: most wins of all time with 105, most pole positions with 104 and podium finishes with 202. Hamilton shattered the racial barrier as the first and current only Black driver in F1. Hamilton broke the mold of a traditional F1 driver, bringing swagger and style to the sport. Hamilton has had unparalleled success, and he has proven that talent is not based on race, making the sport more diverse and accessible across the world.
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as one of the most influential basketball players in the world. Beyond his success on the court, his partnership with Nike to create the Jordan Brand has become one of the most successful and recognizable sneaker lines globally.
Jordan began his college career at the University of North Carolina in 1981, where he averaged 13.1 points per game as a freshman. In 1982, he helped lead the Tar Heels to a national championship against Georgetown, hitting the game-winning shot. He was later selected in the 1984 NBA Draft.
From there, his highlight-reel plays and electrifying style of play helped revolutionize the game. With Jordan leading the team, the Chicago Bulls won three straight NBA titles from 1991 to 1993.
“He set the standard and brought that energy every game,” senior Dylan McAllister said.
Jordan retired in 1993 following his father’s death, but returned to the NBA in 1995. The following season, he led the Chicago Bulls to a historic 72–10 record in 1995–96, an NBA mark that stood for 20 years until the Golden State Warriors broke it in the 2015–16 season. The Bulls capped that season with another championship, Jordan’s fourth.
Jordan and the Bulls went on to win titles again in 1997 and 1998, completing his second three-peat. He retired following the 1997–98 season but briefly returned to the NBA with the Washington Wizards in 2001 at age 38. He retired for the final time in 2003.
Off the court, Jordan helped build the Jordan Brand into one of the most iconic sneaker lines in history. With a net worth estimated at more than $3 billion, Jordan’s influence has extended beyond basketball, inspiring generations both on and off the court.
Deion Sanders is one of the best defensive corners in NFL history, being selected to the NFL 1990s All-decade team and selected to the NFL 100 anniversary team. He started off his career at Florida State University, where he played football, baseball as well as track and field. Sanders was drafted in 1988 by the New York Yankees of MLB but would mainly play in the NFL, being ranked fifth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 1989. When he stepped on the field, he immediately made an impact by achieving five interceptions in his rookie season, which was a record for the Falcons. This earned Sanders the nickname “Prime Time” for his exceptional play on the field. He was a premier defensive talent, finishing his career with 53 interceptions. He would play a key piece on his teams, winning Super Bowls with the 49ers and Cowboys in 1995 and 1996. He would retire in 2004 after brief stints with the Commanders and Ravens. His main impact as a Black athlete would be through coaching at Jackson State, a historically black college or university (HBCU), leading them to a 27-6 record and two SWAC conference titles. Sanders would later coach Colorado, leading them to their first bowl game appearance in four years in 2024. Sanders has revolutionized football by being unapologetic in embracing his culture and dismantling Black stereotypes during his leadership as a coach.
Venus Williams is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time and helped set the standard for Black women in a predominantly white sport. Since turning professional in 1994, she has won seven major singles titles between 2000 and 2008 and became the first Black American woman to be ranked world No. 1 in the Open Era.
Williams has also earned four Olympic gold medals (2000, 2008 and 2012) and one silver medal in 2016. Known for her longevity, she became the oldest player in the singles draw at Wimbledon in 2023 at age 43. She helped redefine power in women’s tennis and played a key role in the fight for equal prize money at Wimbledon, which was achieved in 2007.
Sophomore Noelle Sousa saw her as an inspiration, saying, “Her power and ability to elevate the game make her one of the all-time greats.”
Because of her longevity and impact on the sport, Williams remains one of the most influential tennis players in history.
