List_of_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_career_steals_leaders
In basketball, a steal is the act of legally gaining possession of the ball by a defensive player who causes the opponent to turn the ball over.[1] The top 25 highest steals totals in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball history are listed below. The NCAA did not split into its current divisions format until August 1973.[2] From 1906 to 1955, there were no classifications to the NCAA nor its predecessor, the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS).[2] Then, from 1956 to spring 1973, colleges were classified as either "NCAA University Division (Major College)" or "NCAA College Division (Small College)".[2][3] Steals are a relatively new statistic in college basketball, having only become an official statistic beginning with the 1985–86 season.[3] Therefore, Robert Morris's Chipper Harris, who amassed 450 steals during his career between 1980 and 1984,[4] is not officially recognized in the all-time ranks.
The all-time Division I steals leader is Jacob Gilyard of Richmond. He recorded 466 steals by utilizing an extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
