2021 Top 25 Breakdown: Best Rebounders

Alexis Markowski

Richard Stockton

October 30, 2020 @ 01:22 PM

In an effort to highlight the the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/nebraska/rankings/2021-rankings/">PGH Nebraska rankings</a> in the most complete way possible, I've divided the 2021 class into 3 ranges: 1-25, 26-50, and outside the top 50. For each range I have chosen who I think are the best shooters, rebounders, passers, and scorers – 5-6 players for each category – and identified what makes them successful. Here are the best senior rebounders ranked in the top 25. [player_tooltip player_id="94394" first="Alexis" last="Markowski"] Position: C Height: 6'3" 2019-2020 Pts./Reb./Ast.: 21.5/12.1/0.6 You won't become the top ranked big in your class, as Alexis has done, without crafting a versatile skill set. Maybe her most impressive and valuable asset is her rebounding ability. Being 6'3" certainly helps, but that isn't what drives her success on the glass. Alexis has been schooled on the fundamentals. When she is in the post with the ball, she's always holding it high above her head. When she gets a rebound, she never drops her elbows below her head and gets the shot back up before the defense has time to react. At her size, she shows fantastic effort and agility with her multiple efforts if she doesn't come down with it the first time. [player_tooltip player_id="94424" first="Kiera" last="Estima"] Position: SF Height: 5'8" 2019-2020 Pts./Reb./Ast.: 14.9/6.9/1.3 Kiera is a versatile wing with great agility. She is maybe a bit undersized, but with her athleticism and her instincts on the glass, Kiera overcomes that size gap rather easily. She covers more ground than most people she is fighting for rebounds against, and because of this, the long rebounds are her specialty. Sometimes her height does prevent her from securing the board, yet she is able to get a hand on it and tip it out, or even just knock it out of bounds which allows her team to gather themselves on defense to face the remaining possession. [player_tooltip player_id="94400" first="Nyanuar" last="Pal"] Position: PF Height: 6'2" 2019-2020 Pts./Reb./Ast.: 7.1/7.7/0.9 Using her tremendous length and solid hands, Nyanuar pulls down rebounds that she has no business grabbing. I'm sure many opposing coaches have desperately called out for over-the-back calls on the Omaha Central forward, because she is able to stick those long arms out in front of her to steal rebounds from unsuspecting opponents. Even at her size, she has the agility to chase down rebounds, too. [player_tooltip player_id="94401" first="Charli" last="Earth"] Position: PF Height: 5'9" 2019-2020 Pts./Reb./Ast.: 10/5.9/1.4 The Fremont senior is a true playmaker on the glass. She jumps well, and even if she mistimes it a bit, she is able to hang in the air and still come down with it. She is very springy, especially on her second jumps. This makes her a threat inside on the putback, even at 5'9". Several of those putbacks are completely uncontested because she is able to get back up so quickly. [player_tooltip player_id="94432" first="Josie" last="Petrulis"] Position: SF Height: 5'6" 2019-2020 Pts./Reb./Ast.: 14.7/7/2.1 The profiles of great rebounders usually consist of either great size or great agility, but rarely both. I can't say Josie has great size at her reported height of 5'6", but she does have a very strong base. Even the bigger post players have trouble moving her. With that strength, and her ability to move well in all directions is the key to her success. I think this combo makes her a tough matchup for either guards or bigs. She can run circles around the slow-footed post players and overpower the perimeter players.