First Half State Leaders: Steals

<p><em>With the holiday break upon us, it’s time to take a look at who the state’s leading swipers are through the first half of the season (minimum 30 steals). (Note: Stats are through games that were entered into QuikStats by December 27 at 8:00 am). </em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>1.) 2020 Noah Beck (BGM) - 6.0 steals per game</strong></p> <p>The diminutive 5-5 point guard also found himself on the top 10 assists lists, proving he can be a major impact player on both ends of the floor.</p> <p><strong>2.) 2019 Jake Hilmer (North Linn) - 5.5 steals per game</strong></p> <p>Like Beck, Hilmer found himself on the top 10 assists lists, and like with his assists, being on the steals list should come as no surprise, given he's the state's all-time leader.</p> <p><strong>3.) 2019 Brady Happel (Dunkerton) - 4.9 steals per game</strong></p> <p>The 6-2 senior wing has done a great job turning his defense into offense, as he leads a potent Raiders attack, averaging 18.9 points a game. </p> <p><strong>4.) 2020 Michael Keegan (Dyersville Beckman) - 4.4 steals per game</strong></p> <p>The 6-4 junior point guard is a stat sheet stuffer for the Blazers, leading Beckman in scoring (17.9), assists, steals and blocks, while ranking second in rebounding.</p> <p><strong>5.) 2021 Noah Miller (Forest City) - 4.4 steals per game</strong></p> <p>One of just two sophomores on this top 10 list, Miller leads the Indians in scoring and has been a dynamo on the defensive end, helping Forest City allow just 39.7 points a game on the season.</p> <p><strong>6.) 2019 Tyreke Locure (Des Moines North) - 4.2 steals per game</strong></p> <p>One of the quickest guards in the state, few players in our time at Prep Hoops Iowa have been better at reading and jumping passing lanes for steals. The future South Alabama Jaguar also has tremendously quick hands to poke the ball away from opposing ball handlers. </p> <p><strong>7.) 2021 Parker Rochford (Edgewood-Colesburg) - 4.2 steals per game</strong></p> <p>The sophomore guard is having a monster offensive year for the Vikings, averaging 23.8 points a game. He's also excelling on the defensive end, as his 4.2 steals suggest.</p> <p><strong>8.) 2019 Matt Soetmelk (Logan-Magnolia) - 4.1 steals per game</strong></p> <p>The 6-2 senior forward ranks second on the team in scoring and assists in addition to having three times as many steals as anyone else.</p> <p><strong>9.) 2019 Colton Horak (WACO) - 4.1 steals per game</strong></p> <p>A quick, 5-9 guard, Horak isn't much of a scoring threat (6.7 points a game), but has been incredibly valuable for the Warriors, leading them in assists and steals.</p> <p><strong>10.) 2019 Reed Worth (PCM) - 4.0 steals per game</strong></p> <p>The quarterback of PCM's state title winning football team, Worth is putting together one hell of a senior year, as he leads the Mustangs in scoring at 23.6 points a game, and has PCM looking like a real state tournament threat.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The next 16:</strong> AJ Dillon (Riverside, 2019; 3.9); Charlie Wiebers (Denison-Schleswig, 2020; 3.9), Josh Brownlee (Griswold, 2019; 3.9), Landen Klatt (Madrid, 2019; 3.7), Koty Kuhlers (Belmond-Klemme, 2019; 3.6), Hunter Rickels (Calamus-Wheatland, 2019; 3.6), Jake Staudt (Rockford, 2019; 3.5), Bryce Phelps (Denver, 2021; 3.4), Trey Shearer (Montezuma, 2021; 3.4), Avery Busta (Forest City, 2019; 3.3), Nathan Blankman (IKM-Manning, 2019; 3.3), Blayze Quigley (Sumner-Fredericksburg, 2019; 3.3), Jalen Humphrey (Underwood, 2019; 3.1), Collin Bacon (Postville, 2020; 3.0), Griffin Diggs (Ogden, 2020; 3.0), Lucas Weiland (West Hancock, 2019; 3.0)</p>