Top Pickpockets

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the regular season having concluded, and the postseason getting underway this week, I wanted to circle back and make note of players who excelled during the 2023-2024 season in several different statistical categories. These statistics have been pulled from MaxPreps, so if you feel like someone has been omitted, it's likely because their school/coach didn't update their statistics online, or they don't have enough games entered yet to qualify. Below is a look at the top five steals leaders from this season, regardless of school classification or graduation year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">6.1 spg - [player_tooltip player_id='572820' first='Kaiden' last='Hanley'], 2024, North Miami H.S.</font></strong><br>- Kaiden is kind of an under-the-radar player in North Central Indiana who was likely a "steal" (<em>pardon the pun</em>) for Holy Cross College. She has always been a nice run-and-jump athlete, but as she has built her skill over the last couple of seasons, her awareness and instincts have improved as well. Defending a lot of bigger wings and forwards, she's able to use her quickness and her length to jump passing lanes and create turnovers/transition opportunities for her squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">6.0 spg - [player_tooltip player_id='404111' first='Jacklynn' last='Hosier'], 2025, Alexandria-Monroe H.S.</font></strong><br>- Jacklynn isn't overly explosive, but she's very smooth and fluid, plus she has tremendous length at her height. In a lot of what they do defensively, especially in some zone trapping, she's able to use her length to affect passing lanes and get her hands on a lot of them. She is highly effective out on top of their defenses, and she can turn a deflection into a transition basket in a hurry. Add to that her overall skill and high IQ for the game, and she is a nightmare to plan against.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">5.8 spg - [player_tooltip player_id='567130' first='Gracyn' last='Gilliard'], 2026, Munster H.S.</font></strong><br>- Gracyn is a talented athlete who just continues to improve week to week, year to year. She was already playing at a high level last season as a rookie, but she looks like a seasoned veteran as a Sophomore. She uses a combination of strength, speed, and quickness, along with some length, to defend effectively both on and off the ball. She, too, is used in trapping situations at times, and she gets her share of transition baskets because of it. She has a bright future ahead of her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">5.8 spg - [player_tooltip player_id='295797' first='Kaycie' last='Warfel'], 2025, Pendleton Heights H.S.</font></strong><br>- Kaycie is a talented athlete, and oftentimes a blur on the floor. She is an extremely long, lean, and North/South fast prospect. I would guess she could be a full-scholarship kid on the track as well. She uses her length and an explosive first step to steal the ball from "help" positions, plus she can move laterally extremely well and contain ball-handlers to the point of their frustration, often turning them over. For as much as she scores, I think Kaycie is an even better defensive player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">5.4 spg - [player_tooltip player_id='570383' first='Kahlen' last='Robinson'], 2025, Thea Bowman Leadership Academy</font></strong><br>- Kahlen was a bit of a raw athlete as a Freshman, but over the past couple of seasons, she has really started to put it together at both ends of the floor. Defensively, she is long, quick/fast, and gaining strength. She uses all of that to both affect passing lanes from "help" and frustrate opposing ball-handlers. I would like to see her play against some of the state's best guards her age, but she definitely has the potential to become a high-level lockdown defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->