Returning Defensive (Steals) Masterminds in North Jersey

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lockdown defense is the name of their game. Let's take a look at some returning defensive stoppers ready to wreak havoc yet again this season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='835485' first='Addison' last='Keenan'] | Caldwell</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Super scrappy defense has always been a big part of her game. As a sophomore, Addy nearly doubled her production from freshman year, going from 70 steals to 132. Averaging 4.4 SPG, she put the clamps on against some of the toughest teams on the schedule: 6 steals vs Morris Knolls, 8 steals vs West Essex (career-high) &amp; 5 steals vs Pope John. Her defense led the way for the Chiefs in their deep postseason run to the N2G2 Sectional Final, where she averaged just under 3.0 SPG. She'll set her sights on 300 steals before season's end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='789184' first='Iyanah' last='Lafontant'] | Arts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 4.2 SPG, Iyanah did a phenomenal job being a menace on the defensive end. She was consistent from beginning to end, tallying 104 steals in just 25 games. She recorded at least 5 steals in six games and swiped a career-best 10 steals vs Irvington, part of a double-double performance. She'll have a chance to eclipse 200 steals before Year 3 is over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='981852' first='Harmoni' last='Burgess'] | Arts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harmoni came out swinging in her rookie season. With 125 steals in 25 games, she put up one of the highest averages in the state at 5.0 SPG. In just her second game, she already recorded double-digit steals and followed that up with two more, including a season-high 12 vs Irvington. In two postseason games, she averaged 4.5 SPG and made her presence felt as Arts nearly upset Verona in the N2G1 quarters. Year 2 may prove even more fruitful, with the 200-mark well within reach before March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1192833' first='Takyiwah' last='Otoo'] | Bard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Otoo recorded double-digit steals three times in her freshman campaign, including 11 steals vs West Caldwell Tech, all part of double-double performances. At an average of nearly 5.0 SPG, she put in work defensively against teams like Shabazz (17 combined in two meetings), Newark Central (4 steals) &amp; Technology (13 combined in two meetings). She enters Year 2 with 116 steals to her name.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601403' first='Angelica' last='Do'] | Leonia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Consistently one of the scrappiest on-ball defenders in the state, Angelica was spectacular in her junior year. With 199 steals in 27 games (7.4 SPG), she tore up offensive schemes and forced turnovers at a furious pace, game after game. She recorded six games with double-digits steals, all part of triple-double performances, with five coming consecutively. She also had six other games with at least 8 steals! She heads into her senior season with 603 steals on her resume, landing on the all-time leaderboard in NJ girls basketball history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='835219' first='Dani' last='Daproza'] | Leonia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just two games into her sophomore season and Dani had already recorded double-digit steals, part of a double-double game against Bogota. Two games later, double-digit steals (a career-high 15) and a monster triple-double against Passaic Charter. She went on to record yet another double-digit steals triple-double in January and fully establish herself as a lockdown defender and total ball heckler. Averaging 6.3 SPG, one of the best in the state, she upped her production from freshman year where she averaged 5.8 SPG. She enters Year 3 with 332 steals to her name.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157917' first='JoJo' last='Yarde'] | Columbia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Neatly tripling her production from freshman to sophomore year, Yarde put together an unforgettable 27-game season that saw her tally 152 steals, good for 5.6 SPG. She kicked off December in sizzling fashion and never looked back, averaging 5.8 SPG for the month. Season highlights include 6 steals vs Union Catholic, 6 steals vs Bernards, 9 steals vs Payne Tech and a career-best 10 steals vs Hasbrouck Heights. She crossed the 200-mark for her career and has a great chance to surpass 300 before March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='559047' first='Lexi' last='Carnegie'] | Teaneck</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lexi's full court pressure broke down even the most elite of opponents. Her quick hands and sharp anticipation makes her one of the best defenders in New Jersey. Back from injury and fully healthy last season, she went on to snatch 130 steals in 27 games, good for 4.8 SPG. Season highlights include 5 steals vs Saddle River Day, 7 steals vs STA and a season-high 8 vs Demarest. She was stellar in the postseason, averaging 5.3 SPG through three games. She'll look to eclipse 400 steals for her career (currently at 313) before it's all said and done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825463' first='Rhyan' last='Watt'] | West Orange</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Orange played an exceptionally difficult schedule last season and Rhyan did her big one time and time again. She tallied 179 steals in 34 games, or 5.3 SPG, against some of the state's top-ranked teams. She recorded double-figure totals in five games, all part of double-double showings. A career-high 11 steals came against nationally ranked (and #1 in NJ) Morris Catholic. Other highlights include 7 steals vs Teaneck, 10 vs DePaul and 8 (in three meetings) vs Montclair Immaculate. In the postseason, she turned up the heat to another level, averaging 8.7 SPG across six games. With a similar season, 400 career steals is within the realm of possibility before Year 3 is over. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->