Most underhyped athletes of 2011

Several athletes used 2011 as a launching pad to signal an arrival in their respective sport, but still didn't get the credit they deserve.

Here is a rundown of the names that top the list.

No Bones about it, this Ultimate Fighting Championship light-heavyweight champ has some serious skill, and he's only beginning to develop it.

At age 24, he is the youngest champion in UFC history. Good looking, well spoken and admittedly still has a lot to learn in terms of the full array of mixed martial arts moves. But he knows how to finish off opponents early. Fought four times in 2011 and won the belt for the first time and subsequently defended it twice afterwards.

For whatever reason, he receives as much jeers as he does cheers from UFC fans. His fame is more centralized to North America and principally to the MMA community, but expect him to be the face of the UFC as it continues to expand its brand worldwide and, by extension, become more widely known in the mainstream sports world.

Every once in a while a tight end garners attention. This season, there are two who are lighting it up but, for the most part, are flying under the radar in terms of recognition.

Graham, who is relatively raw in terms of his football ability having played almost exclusively as a basketball player in college, is having a breakout season in his second year with the New Orleans Saints. He has totaled 1,171 receiving yards and needs only 120 with two games to go to break the record of 1,290 set by Kellen Winslow in 1980. Graham has 87 catches and has a shot at another tight end record: Tony Gonzalez's mark of 102 catches set in 1994.

Gronkowski, nicknamed Gronk, is also a second-year player, and has set a tight-end record with 15 touchdowns this season for the New England Patriots. He trails Graham by only 30 yards with 12 fewer catches. If anyone picked these two high up in your pools, you're eligible for a pro scouting job.

Okay, remember all the hype about Michelle Wie when she was a teen sensation? Well, Thompson is poised to become the new teen queen of golf.

In September, she became the youngest winner of an LPGA tournament at age 16, scoring a victory by five strokes and beating many of the top money-list winners in the process. She will join the circuit full-time in 2012, becoming the youngest tour player in history after successfully filing a petition to gain entry ahead of the 18-year-old entry level.

He father, Scott, is also her caddy. She is home-schooled and the only thing missing from her profile is a slice of apple pie. Watch how the LPGA markets her.

Known simply as Neymar, he is a 19-year old who could be next in a long line of star Brazilian soccer players. He is currently with the club team Santos and has totaled 40 goals in 85 games. In two years with the Brazilian national team, he has compiled eight goals in 15 games.

Neymar was given a big-time pay raise and contract extension through 2014 by his club team in November amid reports that Real Madrid may have been after him.

Unfortunately, he was involved in a controversial moment in a game in March this year when a banana peel was thrown onto the pitch by a fan after he scored the second of two goals for his country in a 2-0 friendly win against Scotland at Emirates Stadium. He accused the opposition of racism and that triggered a major outcry.

He has played in the shadow of Pittsburgh Penguins' teammate Sidney Crosby for years, but has emerged as his team's leader this season with Sid The Kid playing only a few games because of concussion issues and various other teammates sidelined with injuries.

Malkin has come back from reconstructive knee surgery because of an injury suffered in February and has been on a wicked point-scoring role, totaling six goals and nine assists in the last six games, coinciding with Crosby's concussion setback.

Name the No. 1-ranked men's tennis player in the world? If you answered Novak Djokovic, you must be a tennis aficionado.

The 6'2 native of Serbia emerged as the top-ranked player in 2011 beginning in July, winning three Grand Slam titles this year -- the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open -- and 10 tournaments overall.

He also set an ATP World Tour single-season earnings record with $12 million. But he still has a long way to go to match the reputations of long-time stars such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Began the NASCAR season behind more-celebrated teammate Kurt Busch, but made him expendable by season's end (although Busch's motormouth played a factor in it).

The 27-year-old emerged in the second half of the season as a rising star registering wins in three Sprint Cup races, including one in which he was driving with a broken ankle following a crash in a test drive only a few days before.

Finished fifth overall in the year-end standings, a major improvement from the year before in which he placed 25th .

Second-year centre fielder isn't exactly in the media spotlight playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but is rapidly moving up the ranks as a power hitter, albeit one who has also has a high level of strikeouts.

He totaled 23 home runs and 89 runs batted in last year. He also had his first 20-20 season, swiping 23 bases.

If he learns to hit with consistency and cuts down on his strikeouts, he'll be even more of a factor in 2012.

Ever heard of the horse Seabiscuit and what he did? Well, this is the harness racing equivalent. He is a seven-year-old gelded trotter that quite likely will be voted horse of the year in the U.S. and Canada.

By the proverbial something out of nothing, San Pail took on the best of his age group and gait and won consistently in 2011, posting 14 wins and two seconds in 16 starts and almost $1.3 million in earnings. In one of those races, he recorded a personal-best speed mark.

He is the people's horse because of the crowds that come to see him and there are no immediate plans to retire him.

The Canadian Football League has spawned some players who have gone on to greatness in the National Football League, including some quarterbacks. Lulay may be headed towards that.

He completed his first full season in 2011 and led the B.C. Lions to a Grey Cup championship with leadership skills in addition to his physical attributes. He can pass the ball downfield and is mobile.

He has another year left to go on his current contract, and if he continues his trajectory, the NFL will be coming after him, although the Lions will try to convince him to extend his deal.

Check out Perry's list of 2011's most overhyped athletes.

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on sportsnet.ca. He is also a regular contributor on other sports, including the UFC.