Box-out Monsters to be Wary of

One of the most important skills players, regardless of position, must do well is box-out. On the perimeter or interior being able to find and lay some wood on an opponent can win the team the rebound. Notice I said TEAM. Players on the best teams find any player and use those nature-given forearm/hips/butt tools and take opponents out of the play. One of the biggest insults to an offensive team is for the ball to hit the floor before the defensive team grabs it. Great rebounding teams beat their opponents up because of physicality on both ends of the glass. Players on strong rebounding teams look forward to game day because they get to hit, and are less likely to get hit by, someone else for a change. Talk about fun!   This is about boxing out to get the rebound. Getting a ton of rebounds does not get you attention from college coaches. What you do to get or prevent an opponent from getting a rebound is. Here's a look at some of the toughest players to rebound against.   Elle Bower, CG, McPherson, 2025 - Bower will be an interesting player to watch as the Bullpups set their rotation through December. Coach Strathman dexcribed her as a terrific shooter late last season but what I really liked from her was her feistiness on the box-out. Even if she physically could not hold it Bower went after people consistently. As she gets stronger she will be brutal for opposing guards to fight through.   [player_tooltip player_id='398382' first='Heaven' last='Gilbert'], 5'10", PF, Wichita Heights, 2025 - Gilbert is one of the biggest, strongest, and smartest power forwards around. She is physical, quick, and runs well. Not an intention on her part but I saw Gilbert throw an opposing, big 6'0" center out of bounds rebounding on a free throw this summer when the center was trying to get around her box-out Took that girl right out of the game mentally, which went a long way to costing that team the game. Skilled on the box-out Gilbert will pin opponents under the basket to gather the ball with her off hand. A box-in as it were.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/10/Kodi-Greer-Basehor-Linwood-2024.jpg?w=425" alt="" class="wp-image-528058" style="aspect-ratio:0.9747706422018348;width:98px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Basehor-Linwood 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='396412' first='Kodi' last='Greer']. Photo: Robert Kelly.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='396412' first='Kodi' last='Greer'], 5'6", PG, Basehor-Linwood, 2024 - Greer's game has taken off in the past year and it has not gone unnoticed. She holds multiple offers. She has speed, quickness, handles, quick-soft passing ability, and vision. She also just flat competes and it shows up defensively and in the rebouding game. Greer puts a body on people. She is among the few who will stay with a player off the bounce to then box them out after a forced pull-up jumper. A fundamental piece of defense not often seen.   [player_tooltip player_id='827712' first='Ava' last='Grosdidier'], 5'10", Blue Valley Northwest, 2026 - My Missouri colleague Earl Austin <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/10/mokan-showcase-class-of-2026-forwards/">reported</a> on Grosdidier's play a week ago. One of the two things he liked from her was how well she boxed out. Describing her enjoyment of interior physical play I anticipate she will earn minutes by out-working and be more physical than her teammates in practice.   [player_tooltip player_id='196766' first='Elle' last='Hatcher'], 6'0", PF, Liberal, 2024 - A key to being a good rebounder is timing. Knowing when to start getting into position before a shot takes trust in her teammates to take the right shots and anticipating when opponents will take theirs. The lengthy, esperienced, and athletic Hatcher has a strong rebounding IQ.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/01/Elle-Hatcher-2024-Liberal.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-380361" style="aspect-ratio:0.898876404494382;width:95px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Liberal 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='196766' first='Elle' last='Hatcher']. Photo: Robert Kelly</figcaption></figure>   Joley Harbaugh, 5'5", PG, Pretty Prairie, 2025 - Harbaugh backed up at senior Trinity Kruse at point guard last season. Anticipating she will step into that role I expect her game to develop quickly. One thing I saw from her in March during the Bulldogs' upset loss during sub-state was she was the only player on the floor looking to box on teammates' shots. It is a little thing but that little thing generates rebounds, extra points, and fouls against.   [player_tooltip player_id='606251' first='Jayla' last='McLeod'], 5'10", PF/SF, McPherson, 2024 - McLeod moved into the starting line-up last season against Hays. Length, athleticism, hops, terrific timing around the basket, and of course physicality are among the things she brings to the table. She finds someone and puts a body on them with strength. Especially because of her timing I would not be surprised to see her pull double-double numbers this season with all-state power forward Jordan Sears now at Newman University..   [player_tooltip player_id='396409' first='Dominique' last='Schutte'], 5'11", SG, Halstead, 2024 - The Ottawa University commit is known for some for her handles but especially as a perimeter shooter. What I like best about her game is she looks to box out on both ends of the floor. With her length, speed, and handles in transition if Shutte gets the defensive board she's gone.   [player_tooltip player_id='349462' first='Zarianna' last='Walker'], 5'10", SG/SF, Wichita Heights, 2025 - One big moment I saw from Walker this summer was watching this athletic and long wing keep on of the biggest, strongest centers around from gettng a rebound off a missed free throw. She sat down, spread out, and used her body with balance and did so fiercely.   [player_tooltip player_id='719107' first='Kambrey' last='Woods'], 5'8", PF, Inman, 2026 - Among the better garbage collectors to be found around the basket is Woods. Woods uses her solid quickness and build to find opponents and box them. She will gather her share of boards but really watch for who she takes out of a play while teammates pull the ball in.

One of the most important skills players, regardless of position, must do well is box-out. On the perimeter or interior being able to find and lay some wood on an opponent can win the team the rebound. Notice I said TEAM. Players on the best teams find any player and use those nature-given forearm/hips/butt tools and take opponents out of the play. One of the biggest insults to an offensive team is for the ball to hit the floor before the defensive team grabs it. Great rebounding teams beat their opponents up because of physicality on both ends of the glass. Players on strong rebounding teams look forward to game day because they get to hit, and are less likely to get hit by, someone else for a change. Talk about fun!