Returning Steals Leaders in Group 2

Offense may come and go but defense is forever! And you know what they say… defense wins championships! These hoopers were locked in from start to finish last season and look to continue picking pockets and show off their defensive prowess.   [player_tooltip player_id='488846' first='Marissa' last='LaVerghetta'] | Mahwah   161 steals in 25 games; 6.6 spg   At an astonishing 6.6 steals per contest, Marissa was one of the state's leading pick-pocketers last season. It was this relentless ball pressure that helped the Thunderbirds compile a .500 record and land them in the North Jersey, Section 1 Group 2 quarterfinals. At this remarkable pace, she has a legitimate shot at reaching 500 steals for her career before her senior season winds down in February.   [player_tooltip player_id='489441' first='Harper' last='Felch'] | Morris Tech   115 steals in 25 games; 4.6 spg   Harper's defensive integrity is one of the best I had the pleasure of witnessing last year. Keeping the opponent in front of her and applying ball-pressure with scrappy, active hands, she stalked the perimeter and turned opponents over at an alarming rate. She is expected to swipe her 300th career steal just halfway through her senior season!   [player_tooltip player_id='325186' first='Faith' last='Fedd-Robinson'] | Newark Central   125 steals in 28 games; 4.5 spg   Is there a more complete player in the state of New Jersey? Faith does it ALL, including locking down on defense and smothering opponents both on and off the ball. She kick-started her junior year with a triple-double against West Essex and a few games later recorded a season-high 11 steals against Livingston. Before her career at Newark Central wraps up, Faith has a chance to record 450 steals and further cement her legacy as one of the best to ever play for the Blue Devils.   [player_tooltip player_id='671362' first='Monica' last='Curry'] | Vernon   90 steals in 22 games; 4.1 spg   Monica established herself as a solid defender early on in her freshman season when she racked up thirty-seven steals in her first ten games. Her commitment to defense helped her team compile a 16-8 record and make a playoff appearance in late February. 200 career steals is well within striking distance before her sophomore campaign comes to a end.   [player_tooltip player_id='406936' first='Allison' last='Cannon'] | Holmdel   109 steals in 28 games; 3.9 spg   Allison can light it up on offense and then turn around puts the clamps on defensively. Her laser-focus and pursuit of the basketball leads to a ton of turnovers forced and quick-hitting buckets in transition. The sensational senior is poised to reach 300 steals for her career before March.   [player_tooltip player_id='414342' first='Angela' last='Gatto'] | Dayton   97 steals in 25 games; 3.9 spg   Angela had a season-high 10 steals against Johnson in early January and kept up that intensity all season long. She locked down, applied pressure and got crucial stops in very important games and led her team to the North Jersey, Section 2 Group 2 semifinal in late February. She has a chance to surpass 300 career steals as a junior and put the entire state on notice!   [player_tooltip player_id='407040' first='Alyssa' last='Craigwell'] | Secaucus   122 steals in 32 games; 3.8 spg   Alyssa's incredibly active hands and excellent anticipation makes her a nightmare for opponents. She was one of the state's most efficient two-way players a season ago and enters her senior year with even more fire and intensity, ready to make waves! Alyssa posted a career-high 12 steals against Harrison (part of a triple-double) and something tells me she'll top that at some point this season. 300 career steals is a milestone she is sure to reach come playoff time!   [player_tooltip player_id='325192' first='Devyn' last='Quigley'] | Manchester Township   105 steals in 28 games; 3.8 spg   Ranked #49 in the nation in the Class of 2024, the NC State commit sure knows a thing or two about steals. Try 105 of them, because that's how many she racked up as a junior for the Hawks! She is a juggernaut on offense but also prides herself on playing suffocating defense and having the ball-handler in shambles. Devyn will have a chance to eclipse 300 career steals before closing out her senior year.   [player_tooltip player_id='583762' first='Sanaa' last='Hayes'] | Newark Central   94 steals in 25 games; 3.8 spg   Alongside [player_tooltip player_id='325186' first='Faith' last='Fedd-Robinson'], Sanaa created havoc for opposing teams and turned the ball over at a furious rate. When she's locked in on defense, there isn't a player out there who wants the smoke! Her efficient defense made for tons of steals while committing few fouls. With her junior year just around the corner, Sanaa is poised to notch career steal number 300 and continue adding to her impressive totals.   [player_tooltip player_id='879815' first='Gabby' last='Mariani'] | Madison   100 steals in 27 games; 3.7 spg   Gabby has finished with triple-digits steals in her first two years at Madison and I'm sure this year will be no different. She swiped a career-high 10 steals against Mountain Lakes and continued to apply pressure all the way through February, where she helped her team make an appearance in the North Jersey, Section 2 Group 2 Final. Her defensive prowess will most likely see her reach 300 steals at some point in the playoffs this season!

Offense may come and go but defense is forever! And you know what they say… defense wins championships! These hoopers were locked in from start to finish last season and look to continue picking pockets and show off their defensive prowess.