NCAA Basketball: Best rebounders from all 32 conferences for 2020-21 season
By Bryan Mauro
ACC – Garrison Brooks (North Carolina)
The Heels didn’t win much on the floor last year and finished near the bottom of the ACC for the first time since 2009-2010 season. Despite their losses and the underwhelming season North Carolina was the best rebounding team in the ACC. Brooks led the attack on both ends of the floor when it came to a rebound. The big man averaged 8.5 rebounds per game last year and was good on the offensive glass.
The senior Tar Heel secured 272 total rebounds a season ago and 102 of those came on the offensive end which was good enough for about 38% of his rebounding production. A player that can rebound like that on the offensive end is a huge asset to have especially given that North Carolina was not great on offense last year.
Brooks also made a huge jump a year ago and turned into the rebounder that he currently is. He will take the next step of his development and can average a double-double this year in what will be a normal year for the Tar Heels.
America East – Sean Sutherlin (New Hampshire)
The Wildcats showed a lot of promise last year and because of that have increased expectations this year. When your roster has one of the best overall players in the league who just so happens to be the best rebounder doesn’t hurt. The 9.5 rebounds per game were good enough for second in the conference a year ago.
Sutherlin finished in the top 15 in defensive rebounds per game last year with just a shade under 8 per game. Considering he is the point guard for the Wildcats, his ability to secure defensive rebounds enables him to quickly get the Wildcats on offense either in transition or in the half-court. It is not every day that you can find a guard who can rebound as the senior guard can. It is an asset that head coach Bill Herrion is hoping leads to more wins for his team this year.
American – Jayden Gardner (East Carolina)
Here is a spot that in any normal year would be reserved for Alexis Yetna from South Florida, but since Yetna didn’t play a single minute last season due to injury he did not qualify for this list. Let it be known that even if Yetna did play last year, Gardner would still be strongly considered for this list. He is arguably the best overall player in the league and the best player for the Pirates.
Gardner is an elite scorer and rebounder and has future NBA player written all over him. Since the day he arrived on campus Gardner has been one of the best rebounders in the conference and the junior is going to prove that he is without a doubt the best rebounder in the conference this year.
A season ago the forward averaged just about 20 points per game and a little under 10 rebounds per game. He is a great defensive rebounder and he was still able to secure about three offensive rebounds per game. Gardner is already instant offense for the Pirates and now with his rebounding prowess, he is becoming unstoppable.
Atlantic 10 – Jordan Goodwin (Saint Louis)
The Billikens have the two best rebounders in this conference, and it was more of a take your pick between which one was the best rebounder. Goodwin and his teammate Hasahn French both averaged a double-double for the year and both players return to wreak more havoc in the Atlantic 10. Why was Goodwin the best rebounder in the league?
Well, Goodwin is a 6’3” guard and that should be worth something especially considering that he is a good offensive rebounder and is able to get his team a ton of extra possessions and extends a lot of possessions. The guard is also the team’s go-to option on the offensive end as well, so he is likely getting a rebound and either putting the ball back up from the offensive glass or getting the team out in transition after the defensive rebound.
To put into perspective just how good of an offensive rebounder the guard is he has secured a total of 591 total rebounds over the last two seasons. 230 of those have been on the offensive end which is good for 40% of his overall rebounds over the last two seasons. That is impressive for anyone, especially a 6’3” guard.