Time100 The next list honors Jaylen Brown, Ilona Maher and other stars

There are always accolades for Celtics guard Jaylen Brown.

The NBA champion, MVP and budding entrepreneur is one of several New England stars named to this year's Time100 Next list. Time's annual awards focus on emerging artists and leaders who are shaping the future. Brown, who was listed in the advocates section of the list, received his own magazine cover as part of the honor, as well as a tribute penned by former NFL quarterback and activist Colin Kaepernick.

“Jaylen Brown is more than an NBA star; He is a force for justice and change,” Kaepernick wrote in his tribute. “It was inspiring to watch him lead the Boston Celtics to the NBA Championship in June, but what really stands out is his commitment to encouraging others.”

Kaepernick went on to praise Brown for his work off the field, particularly for founding Boston XChange, a nonprofit initiative focused on creating generational wealth in communities of color.

“Boston XChange is not just a program – it is a blueprint for change,” Kaepernick wrote. “Jaylen is not just an athlete; He is a beacon of hope and shows us that true power lies in lifting others up. I stand with him and am inspired by the path he is paving for all of us.”

In addition to Brown, Vermont rugby star and Olympic bronze medalist Ilona Maher was also honored in the “Phenomena” section of the list, with a tribute penned by Olympic skiing gold medalist Lindsey Vonn.

“It's time we all paid attention to a woman like Ilona Maher!” Vonn wrote. “Many women, including myself, have tried to advocate for strong women of all shapes and sizes, but Ilona took that to a whole new level. It not only represents physical strength, but also what inner confidence looks like.”

Maher wasn't the only New England Olympian to make the list in the Phenom category; Stoughton native and bronze medalist gymnast Fred Richard also made it. Richard also received a tribute from teammate and Worcester native Stephen Nedoroscik, also known as the “Pommel Horse Guy.”

“Fred Richard is improving faster than any gymnast I have ever seen,” Nedoroscik wrote. “He’s a great gymnast and a great advocate for the sport.”

Other notable New Englanders who made the Time100 Next list include Rhode Island boxer and “True Detective: Night Country” star Kali Reis and Tony Award-winning composer and Vermont native Shaina Taub, both of whom were honored in the “Artist” category. Meanwhile, Michelle Evelyn Morse, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women's Hospital, was honored in the attorney category.

In addition to the New England stars featured on the list, Time honored a number of other big names this year, including pop star Sabrina Carpenter, “Shogun” actress Anna Sawai and “I Hate Boston” singer Reneé Rapp.

Matt Juul can be reached at [email protected].