List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season steals leaders
Encyclopedia
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
. 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.
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 Providence
's Eric Murdock
(376), although Murdock never led the NCAA in steals per game average. No player has ever repeated as the steals leader since it became an official statistic. Of the major yearly NCAA statistical leaders (points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals per game), this is the only category that has never had a player achieve the feat more than once.
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. As of 2010, 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 82, and the lowest steals per game average to win is 2.82, both of which occurred in 2009–10
and were achieved by Jay Threatt of Delaware State.
Three freshmen
have led the nation in steals: Jason Kidd
(1993), Joel Hoover (1997) and Devin Gibson (2008). 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
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, a steal
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
is the act of legally gaining possession of the ball by a defensive player who causes the opponent to turn the ball over
Turnover (basketball)
In basketball, a turnover occurs when a player from one team gives possession to a member of the opposing team by losing the ball. This can result from the ball being stolen, the player making mistakes such as stepping out or throwing the ball out of bounds, or committing a violation or committing...
. The National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
'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.
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
2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2001, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 1, 2002 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia...
. The all–time leader in career steals is Providence
Providence Friars men's basketball
The Providence Friars men's basketball team represents Providence College in NCAA Division I competition, in which they are a founding member of the Big East Conference. They play their home games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island...
's Eric Murdock
Eric Murdock
Eric Lloyd Murdock is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Utah Jazz in the 1st round of the 1991 NBA Draft....
(376), although Murdock never led the NCAA in steals per game average. No player has ever repeated as the steals leader since it became an official statistic. Of the major yearly NCAA statistical leaders (points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals per game), this is the only category that has never had a player achieve the feat more than once.
When Chavis Holmes
Chavis Holmes
Chavis Holmes was an American college basketball player for the Virginia Military Institute men's basketball program.He was named to the 2009 First Team All-Big South Conference.-High School career:...
of Virginia Military Institute
VMI Keydets men's basketball
The VMI Keydets basketball team represents the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. They compete in the Big South Conference of the NCAA Division I. They have played their home games in Cameron Hall since 1981. VMI has played basketball since 1908, and had played in the Southern...
(VMI) secured his national steals title in 2008–09
2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2008 and ended with the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 6, 2009 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The season saw six different teams achieve the AP #1 ranking during the...
at 3.39 spg, he and his brother Travis
Travis Holmes
Travis Holmes is an American former college basketball player for the Virginia Military Institute men's basketball program. He was named to the 2009 Second Team All-Big South Conference.-High school career:...
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. As of 2010, 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 82, and the lowest steals per game average to win is 2.82, both of which occurred in 2009–10
2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2009, and ended with the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 5, 2010 on the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The opening round occurred on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, followed by first...
and were achieved by Jay Threatt of Delaware State.
Three freshmen
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
have led the nation in steals: Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd
Jason Frederick Kidd is an American professional basketball point guard who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. Raised in Oakland, California, Kidd played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley and was drafted second overall by the Dallas...
(1993), Joel Hoover (1997) and Devin Gibson (2008). 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
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
.
Key
| Pos. | G | F | C | SPG | Ref. |
| Position Basketball position The three basketball positions normally employed by organized basketball teams are guard, forward, and center. More specifically, they can be classified into the five positions: point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. The rules of basketball do not mandate them, and... |
Guard | Forward | Center | Steals per game Steal (basketball) In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player... |
References |
| Class (Cl.) key | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fr | Freshman Freshman A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a... |
So | Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a... |
Jr | Junior Junior (education) "Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman... |
Sr | Senior Senior (education) Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:... |
| ^ | Player still competing in NCAA Division I |
| * | Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player had been the steals leader up to and including that season |
Steals leaders
| Season | Player | Pos. | Cl. | Team | Games played |
Steals Steal (basketball) In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player... |
SPG | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–86 | G | Chicago State | 28 | 139 | 4.96 | |||
| 1986–87 | G | Charleston Southern | 28 | 114 | 4.07 | |||
| 1987–88 | G | Florida A&M Florida A&M Rattlers men's basketball The Florida A&M Rattlers basketball team is the basketball team that represent Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2007. Their home... |
29 | 142 | 4.90 | |||
| 1988–89 | G | Cleveland State Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball started in 1929. Before as Fenn College they were known as the Fenn College Foxes. Cleveland State has been in Division I since 1972. They are a member of the Horizon League Cleveland State was formerly in the Mid-Continent Conference... |
28 | 111 | 3.96 | |||
| 1989–90 | G | Eastern Washington Eastern Washington Eagles men's basketball The Eastern Washington Eagles men's basketball team represents Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Big Sky Conference, of which it has been a member since 1987. The Eagles are currently coached by Jim Hayford.-Key... |
29 | 130 | 4.48 | |||
| 1990–91 | G | Tennessee Tech | 28 | 104 | 3.71 | |||
| 1991–92 | G | Northeastern Illinois Northeastern Illinois Golden Eagles men's basketball - Head Coaching History :-External links:*http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careerteamwinloss*http://statsheet.com/mcb/teams/northeastern-illinois*https://www.nmnathletics.com/pdf7/78574.pdf*http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/NEIL/... |
25 | 86 | 3.44 | |||
| 1992–93 | G | California | 29 | 110 | 3.79 | |||
| 1993–94 | G | Louisiana–Lafayette Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball The Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball program represents intercollegiate men's basketball at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The school competes in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play home... |
30 | 120 | 4.00 | |||
| 1994–95 | G | Texas Texas Longhorns men's basketball The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represents The University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Longhorns currently compete in the Big 12 Conference.... |
30 | 101 | 3.37 | |||
| 1995–96 | G | McNeese State | 27 | 118 | 4.37 | |||
| 1996–97 | G | Maryland–Eastern Shore | 28 | 90 | 3.21 | |||
| 1997–98 | G/F | Ball State Ball State Cardinals men's basketball The Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team is the basketball team that represent Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. The Cardinals first basketball season was 1920-1921. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's... |
29 | 103 | 3.55 | |||
| 1998–99 1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season concluded in the 64-team 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament whose finals were held at Tropicana Field in . The Connecticut Huskies earned their first national championship by defeating the Duke Blue Devils 77–74 on March 29, 1999... |
G | George Washington George Washington Colonials men's basketball The George Washington Colonials Basketball team represents The George Washington University in Washington, DC. It plays its home games in the Charles E. Smith Center, which is also shared with other George Washington Colonials athletic programs. The school's team currently competes in the Atlantic... |
29 | 103 | 3.55 | |||
| 1999–00 | G | Liberty Liberty Flames basketball -History:The Liberty Men's Basketball program began in 1972 under head coach Dan Manley. Liberty University is the second youngest school in NCAA Division I, founded in 1971 . The Flames finished 13-14 in the inaugural season... |
28 | 107 | 3.82 | |||
| 2000–01 2000–01 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2000–01 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 8, 2000, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 2, 2001 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in... |
G | TCU TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball The TCU Horned Frogs basketball team represents Texas Christian University, located in Fort Worth, Texas, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at Daniel–Meyer Coliseum and are members of the Mountain West Conference... |
25 | 108 | 4.32 | |||
| 2001–02 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2001, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 1, 2002 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia... |
G | Alabama A&M | 29 | 160 | 5.52 | |||
| 2002–03 2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2002, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 7, 2003 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans,... |
G | Stetson | 22 | 87 | 3.95 | |||
| 2003–04 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2003, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 5, 2004 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas... |
G | St. Bonaventure | 27 | 107 | 3.96 | |||
| 2004–05 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2004, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 2, 2005 at the Edward Jones Dome in Saint Louis,... |
G | Alabama A&M | 32 | 125 | 3.91 | |||
| 2005–06 2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 6, 2005, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 3, 2006 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
G | ETSU | 28 | 95 | 3.39 | |||
| 2006–07 | G | VMI VMI Keydets men's basketball The VMI Keydets basketball team represents the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. They compete in the Big South Conference of the NCAA Division I. They have played their home games in Cameron Hall since 1981. VMI has played basketball since 1908, and had played in the Southern... |
33 | 111 | 3.36 | |||
| 2007–08 | G | Texas–San Antonio UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball The UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. Originally competing as an NCAA independent in 1981, the Roadrunners joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 1986, and eventually joined the Southland Conference in 1992, where it is a... |
28 | 93 | 3.32 | |||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2008 and ended with the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 6, 2009 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The season saw six different teams achieve the AP #1 ranking during the... |
G | VMI VMI Keydets men's basketball The VMI Keydets basketball team represents the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. They compete in the Big South Conference of the NCAA Division I. They have played their home games in Cameron Hall since 1981. VMI has played basketball since 1908, and had played in the Southern... |
31 | 105 | 3.39 | |||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2009, and ended with the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 5, 2010 on the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The opening round occurred on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, followed by first... |
^ | G | Delaware State | 29 | 82 | 2.82 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 8, 2010 with the preliminary games of the 2010 Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic, and ended with the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 4, 2011 at Reliant Stadium in Houston... |
G | Niagara Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball The Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball team is the college basketball team that represent Niagara University in Lewiston, New York, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference... |
29 | 98 | 3.37 | |||