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<p>Controlling the glass remains one of the surest ways to dictate the pace of a game. Strong defensive rebounding ends opposing possessions and ignites transition opportunities, while offensive boards create second-chance points, wear down defenses, and reward relentless effort. Technique, athleticism, and pure desire all factor in, but the teams and players who consistently win the battle for rebounds usually separate themselves from the pack.</p>
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<p>As WNBA center Teaira McCowan has put it: “Go get every rebound. Even if it's way out of my area code, I'm still trying to go at least to challenge it and try to tip it back. I always have a knack to go to the ball.” That same hunger defines the standout glass-cleaners in New Mexico's Class of 2028.</p>
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<p>This State Report highlights the top rebounders in total boards and rebounds per game for the Class of 2028.</p>
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<p><strong><em>Disclaimer:</em></strong><em> </em>All statistics are sourced from MaxPreps and rely on timely data entry by coaches and programs. Rankings consider observed performance, statistics, team context, and future potential.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Player</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>School</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>GP</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Rebounds</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>RPG</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='1068211' first='Hayley' last='Gutierrez']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Cobre</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">80</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">578</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">7.2</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='1068188' first='Kaiyah' last='Benally']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Sandia</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">89</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">413</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">4.6</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='1233322' first='Adalynn' last='Day']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Hope Christian</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">84</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">402</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">4.7</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='1068415' first='Zoey' last='Loretto']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Volcano Vista</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">68</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">369</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">5.4</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='1233319' first='Kirra' last='Smith']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Pine Hill</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">60</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">358</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">5.9</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='1714926' first='Ana' last='Cisneros']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Questa</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">58</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">339</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">5.8</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='1068275' first='Kiara' last='Brown']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Albuquerque Academy</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">51</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">330</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">6.4</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='1068212' first='Lily' last='Skarsgard']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Albuquerque Academy</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">87</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">315</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">3.6</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1068211' first='Hayley' last='Gutierrez'] – Cobre</strong></p>
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<p>At 5-foot-7, Gutierrez is a bruising, hardworking force who simply refuses to let the ball bounce free. Her relentless pursuit of rebounds stands out even among older players. She is the only member of the 2028 class to surpass both 300 total rebounds and 150 offensive boards in a single season. Gutierrez has posted 37 games with double-digit rebounds and twice exploded for 20-plus boards — both class highs. Her career-best of 22 rebounds underscores just how dominant she can be on the glass.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1068188' first='Kaiyah' last='Benally'] – Sandia</strong></p>
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<p>The versatile 5-foot-7 point guard and reigning Gatorade Player of the Year brings far more than playmaking to the floor. Nationally ranked No. 74 with a wide range of Division I offers, Benally still finds ways to impact the boards. She has recorded three double-digit rebounding games and twice matched her career high of 12 rebounds, showing she can clean the glass when her team needs it most.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1233322' first='Adalynn' last='Day'] – Hope Christian</strong></p>
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<p>One of the top floor generals in Class 4A, Adalyn Day pairs court vision with genuine grit on the glass. She is one of only three players in the 2028 class to climb past the 400-rebound plateau. Day has notched three games with 10 or more rebounds and carries a career high of 12 boards, proving her willingness to crash the paint even from the perimeter.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1068415' first='Zoey' last='Loretto'] – Volcano Vista</strong></p>
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<p>The 5-foot-10 forward blends athleticism and physicality into a steadily improving interior presence. Last season she was one of just three 5A players to haul in 175 or more rebounds. Loretto has posted five double-digit rebounding performances and twice reached her career high of 16 boards, establishing herself as a reliable force under the rim.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1233319' first='Kirra' last='Smith'] – Pine Hill</strong></p>
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<p>Smith's effort on the interior and glass is impossible to ignore. She led all Class 1A rebounders by a comfortable margin last season. Smith has recorded nine games with 10-plus rebounds and matched her career-best of 15 boards on four separate occasions, showcasing both consistency and desire.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1714926' first='Ana' last='Cisneros'] – Questa</strong></p>
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<p>At just 5-foot-3, the combo guard is a budding talent who treats every rebound as a chance to extend a possession. Cisneros was one of only three players in the class to secure 100-plus offensive rebounds last season. She ranks second in the class with 12 double-digit rebounding games and owns a career high of 15 boards — impressive production from the backcourt.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1068275' first='Kiara' last='Brown'] – Albuquerque Academy</strong></p>
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<p>An energetic glue player for the Chargers, the 6-foot Brown uses her size and versatility to defend multiple positions while giving coach Skarsgard valuable lineup flexibility. She has posted eight games with 10 or more rebounds and owns a career high of 19 boards, routinely delivering the hustle plays that help her team control the tempo.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1068212' first='Lily' last='Skarsgard'] – Albuquerque Academy</strong></p>
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<p>Already one of the top scorers in the Class of 2028 and at the 4A level, the savvy 5-foot-10 point guard contributes across the board. Skarsgard has recorded two double-digit rebounding games and twice matched her career high of 11 boards, rounding out a complete game that consistently fuels winning basketball.</p>
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<p>These young athletes prove that rebounding is as much about heart and positioning as it is about height. Their production on the glass already influences games and positions them for even bigger impacts in the seasons ahead.</p>
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<p>Stay tuned for the next State Report featuring the New Mexico Class of 2029 Girls Basketball Rebounding Leaders.</p>
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Controlling the glass remains one of the surest ways to dictate the pace of a game. Strong defensive rebounding ends opposing possessions and ignites transition opportunities, while offensive boards create second-chance points, wear down defenses, and reward relentless effort. Technique, athleticism, and pure desire all factor in, but the teams and players who consistently win the battle for rebounds usually separate themselves from the pack.
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