List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season steals leaders

Last updated

In basketball, a steal is the act of legally gaining possession of the ball by a defensive player who causes the opponent to turn the ball over. [1] The National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I steal title is awarded to the player with the highest steals per game average in a given season. The steal title was first recognized in the 1985–86 season when statistics on steals were first compiled by the NCAA. [2]

Contents

Desmond Cambridge of Alabama A&M holds the all-time NCAA Division I records for single-season steals (160) and steals per game (5.52), which both occurred during the 2001–02 season. The all-time leader in career steals is Richmond's Jacob Gilyard (466), who benefited from the NCAA's blanket COVID-19 eligibility waiver which allowed all student-athletes who were active in 2020–21 to play a full additional season without penalty. [3]

In 2011–12, two 'firsts' occurred: Jay Threatt of Delaware State became the first ever repeat season steals leader, and there was also a tie for the honor (Fuquan Edwin of Seton Hall tied Threatt with a 3.00 steals per game average). When Chavis Holmes of Virginia Military Institute (VMI) secured his national steals title in 2008–09 at 3.39 spg, he and his brother Travis became the first pair of siblings in NCAA basketball history to lead the nation in the same statistical category. Travis had led the country with a 3.36 spg average in 2006–07. Only two schools have had two different players win the steals title: Alabama A&M (2002, 2005) and VMI (2007, 2009). The lowest steals total for a national per game leader is 78, and the lowest steals per game average to win is 2.83, both of which were achieved by Threatt. [4] [5]

Three freshmen have led the nation in steals: Jason Kidd (1993), Joel Hoover (1997), and Devin Gibson (2008). [2] [6] [7] Among them, Kidd tallied the highest steals per game average (3.79) and the most total steals (110). He would also go on to lead the NCAA in assists the following season as a sophomore. [8]

Key

Steals leaders

Jason Kidd led the nation in steals as a freshman in 1993. Jason Kidd mavs allison.jpg
Jason Kidd led the nation in steals as a freshman in 1993.
Bonzi Wells is the only steals champion from Ball State. He led the NCAA in 1997-98. Bonzi-Wells-as-a-Houston-Rocket.jpg
Bonzi Wells is the only steals champion from Ball State. He led the NCAA in 1997–98.
Jacob Gilyard led the nation in steals twice (2020, 2021). Gilyard warmup.jpg
Jacob Gilyard led the nation in steals twice (2020, 2021).
SeasonPlayerPos.Cl.TeamGames
played
Steals SPGRef.
1985–86 Darron Brittman GSr Chicago State 281394.96 [9]
1986–87 Tony Fairley GSr Charleston Southern 281144.07 [2]
1987–88 Aldwin Ware GSr Florida A&M 291424.90 [9]
1988–89 Kenny Robertson GJr Cleveland State 281113.96 [10]
1989–90 Ronn McMahon GSr Eastern Washington 291304.48 [9]
1990–91 Van Usher GJr Tennessee Tech 281043.71 [2]
1991–92 Victor Snipes GSo Northeastern Illinois 25863.44 [11]
1992–93 Jason Kidd *GFr California 291103.79 [6]
1993–94 Shawn Griggs GSr Southwestern Louisiana 301204.00 [12]
1994–95 Roderick Anderson GSr Texas 301013.37 [13]
1995–96 Pointer Williams GSr McNeese State 271184.37 [14]
1996–97 Joel Hoover GFr Maryland–Eastern Shore 28903.21 [2]
1997–98 Bonzi Wells G/FSr Ball State 291033.55 [15]
1998–99 Shawnta Rogers GSr George Washington 291033.55 [16]
1999–00 Carl Williams GSr Liberty 281073.82 [16]
2000–01 Greedy Daniels GJr TCU 251084.32 [16]
2001–02 Desmond Cambridge GSr Alabama A&M 291605.52 [9]
2002–03 Alexis McMillan GSr Stetson 22873.95 [16]
2003–04 Marques Green GSr St. Bonaventure 271073.96 [16]
2004–05 Obie Trotter GJr Alabama A&M 321253.91 [16]
2005–06 Tim Smith GSr East Tennessee State 28953.39 [16]
2006–07 Travis Holmes GSo VMI 331113.36 [16]
2007–08 Devin Gibson GFr UTSA 28933.32 [7]
2008–09 Chavis Holmes GSr VMI 311053.39 [16]
2009–10 Jay Threatt GSo Delaware State 29822.83 [17]
2010–11 Anthony Nelson GSr Niagara 29983.38 [18]
2011–12 Fuquan Edwin G/FSo Seton Hall 341023.00 [4]
Jay Threatt (2)GSr Delaware State 26783.00 [5]
2012–13 Duke Mondy GJr Oakland 331003.03 [19]
2013–14 Brianté Weber GJr VCU 351213.46 [20]
2014–15 Corey Walden GSr Eastern Kentucky 32993.09 [21]
2015–16 Tra-Deon Hollins GJr Omaha 321273.97 [22]
2016–17 Ehab Amin GJr Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 361243.44 [23]
2017–18 Joseph Chartouny GJr Fordham 29973.34 [24]
2018–19 Matisse Thybulle GSr Washington 361263.50 [25]
2019–20 Jacob Gilyard GJr Richmond 31983.16 [26]
2020–21 Jacob Gilyard (2)GSr Richmond 23823.57 [26]
2021–22 Nendah Tarke GSo Coppin State 32942.94 [27]
2022–23 Kellen Tynes GJr Maine 30983.27 [28]
2023–24 Arturo Dean ^GSo FIU 311043.35 [29]
2024–25 Kellen Tynes (2)GGr Maine 341073.15 [28]

References

General
Specific
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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "2009–10 NCAA Men's Basketball Records" (PDF). 2009–10 NCAA Men's Basketball Media Guide. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  3. O'Connor, John (March 28, 2021). "It turned out to be an easy decision. Jacob Gilyard will return for fifth year as a Spider". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Richmond, Virginia . Retrieved April 14, 2021.
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  5. 1 2 "Jay Threatt Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
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  10. "75th Anniversary Countdown". Cleveland State University. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
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  12. Spousta, Tom (March 18, 1994). "Battle for throne under Dome begins today" (Google news archive). Sarasota Herald-Tribune . Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  13. "Roderick Anderson – Founder and President". Fundamental Flavor. 2006. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  14. "Men's Basketball" (PDF). Southland Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  15. "Ball State University Basketball History". bsufans.com. Ball State University. November 30, 2003. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Single Season Leaders and Records for Steals Per Game". Sports Reference, LLC. 2010. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  17. "Sophomore Guard Jay Threatt Finishes Season No. 1 in Steals per Game". Delaware State University. March 2010. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  18. "Anthony Nelson Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  19. "Duke Mondy stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  20. "Brianté Weber stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  21. "Corey Walden stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  22. "Tra-Deon Hollins stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  23. "Ehab Amin stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  24. "Joseph Chartouny stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  25. "Matisse Thybulle stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  26. 1 2 "Jacob Gilyard stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  27. "Nendah Tarke stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  28. 1 2 "Kellen Tynes stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  29. "Arturo Dean stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.