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<p><em>As part of our preseason preview content, we're counting down the top 15 candidates for this year's Mr. Basketball award, presented annually to the top senior in the state. Our countdown continues with a look at our No. 14 player, Burlington Notre Dame point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens'].</em></p>
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<p><strong>Name:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1978106' first='Shay' last='Stephens']<br><strong>Height: </strong>6-5<br><strong>Position:</strong> PG<br><strong>School: </strong>Notre Dame</p>
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<p><strong>2024-25 stats: </strong>501 points (20.9/game), 188 rebounds (7.8), 156 assists (6.5), 19 blocks (0.8), 66 steals (2.8), 180-353 FG (51.0%), 42-115 3P (36.5%), 99-129 FT (76.7%)<br><strong>Career stats: </strong>808 points (12.4), 323 rebounds (5.0), 265 assists (4.1), 21 blocks (0.3), 124 steals (1.9), 288-626 FG (46.0%), 98-273 3P (35.9%), 134-185 FT (72.4%)</p>
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<p><strong>About Stephens: </strong>A lead guard with great size at 6-5, Stephens stuffed the stat sheet last season for the Nikes to the tune of 21-8-7 on efficient shooting. He's a high IQ, shifty guard who can shoot over defenders, get his teammates involved at a high level, and his size and athleticism allow him to defend multiple positions. He had a fantastic spring and summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2246861' first='Murray' last='Elite'], picking up lots of Division II and low-major interest before committing to play his college ball at Western Illinois, one of ten Division 1 commits in the loaded 2026 class. </p>
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<p><strong>Why he can win Mr. Basketball: </strong>It takes some really impressive numbers and team success for a small-school player to take home Mr. Basketball, and Stephens is capable of doing just that. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor is rivaled by few in the state, and if he's able to lead Notre Dame to the state tournament, he'll get his name out there.</p>
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As part of our preseason preview content, we're counting down the top 15 candidates for this year's Mr. Basketball award, presented annually to the top senior in the state. Our countdown continues with a look at our No. 14 player, Burlington Notre Dame point guard Shay StephensShayStephens
6'5" | PG/SG
Burlington Notre Dame | 2026 StateIA
.
Shay
Stephens
6'5" | PG/SG
Burlington Notre Dame | 2026
State
IA
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