Class 4A: Top 10 Returning Steals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1587368' first='Bode' last='Goodman'] (Southeast Polk) - 64 steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171687' first='Cyrus' last='Courtney'] (Kennedy) - 60</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Courtney is a supremely talented athlete with great length and lateral quickness as an on-ball defender. He has a knack for jumping passing lanes and turning defense into quick, easy offense. In addition to his talent on the hardwood, he's also a standout on the gridiron as a wide receiver, and many of those same attributes translate to his dominance as a two-way weapon for the Cougars basketball team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3.) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765514' first='Noah' last='Conley'] (Sioux City North) - 55</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conley is coming off a really good freshman season for the Stars, averaging 10.1 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.5 steals a game. A 5-11 guard who uses his speed to his advantage on both ends of the floor, he'll pair with [player_tooltip player_id='1238369' first='Zach' last='Hesse'] to give North a solid tandem in the backcourt on both ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381418' first='Jamison' last='Poe'] (Ames) - 49</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next in a line of skilled on-ball defenders at Ames, Poe is a small (5-8), but quick and physical lead guard who moves his feet extremely well and uses his quick hands and feet to make life difficult for opposing ball-handlers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476940' first='Aidan' last='Harder'] (Norwalk) - 46</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harder is a lanky 6-3 wing who can do a little bit of everything for the Warriors, averaging 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists a game in addition to his prowess on the defensive end. He has the size and length to occasionally drop down and defend bigger bodies, as well as the quickness to defend on the perimeter, giving Norwalk some versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6.) 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765532' first='Jayden' last='McGregory'] (Valley) - 44*</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long, athletic, quick guard who uses his speed to impact the game on both ends of the floor, McGregory had a standout freshman season at Des Moines North, averaging 14.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.1 steals a game. He transferred to Valley, where he'll be a star as both a football and basketball player for the Tigers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381407' first='Kiki' last='Deng'] (Valley) - 38</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deng is a long, athletic wing who uses his length to his advantage on the defensive end, contesting shots, getting into passing lanes, and making life difficult for opposing ball-handlers. He's part of a remarkably talented 2025 class at Valley, a team that is far-and-away the favorite to win it all again this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1945654' first='Idris' last='Thomas'] (Davenport West) - 38</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas is a long wing who uses his length and athleticism to get into passing lanes and create some havoc. At 6-4, he has the length to make a major impact for the Falcons, and he should be their headliner as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9.) 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171661' first='Redek' last='Born'] (Norwalk) - 37</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Born uses his length and IQ to position himself well on the defensive end, getting into passing lanes. He does a great job reading opposing actions and getting into the right spots to create some chaos on that end of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10.) 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1288899' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'] (Valley) - 36</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The breakout star of the 2023 state tournament, Robinson is also a four-star wide receiver prospect who is getting all sorts of college attention on the gridiron. He's a freak athlete who plays above the rim despite being listed at 5-10, and his eye-popping speed is a major difference-maker on both ends of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->