College Basketball: Top 15 Returning Rebounders in 2011-2012

Even with the departure of Kenneth Faried, there will be many top rebounders returning to play college basketball this season.

It was hard to compile this list simply because many of the nation's leading rebounders are from small schools. I've never seen Sam Houston State or Gardner Webb play.

It's unfortunate because, like Morehead State did with Faried, these schools will turn out some terrific big men who undoubtedly will find themselves near the top of the nation in rebounding. 

However, since many of the returning top rebounders are from small schools, and I have no real way of differentiating them, I chose to compile a list simply made of the big six conferences (Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, Pac-12, ACC, SEC). With the exception of a few, this should give a good look at who the top rebounding NBA prospects will be next year.

To further narrow down the list, I went through the top 100 players in rebounds per game, offensive rebounds per game, offensive rebounding percentage, defensive rebounds per game and defensive rebounding percentage. I pulled out any big conference player from those five lists, and that narrowed my scope down to about 30 players.

To cut that list in half, I went through and calculated each player's rebounds per 40 minutes, and here's a list of the top 15.

It's unfortunate I had to do it this way, because I'm sure I missed some players, but for this instance, I'll let the stats do the talking. 

Just Missed the List

Player, School, RPG, Rebounds Per 40 minutes (in order of RP40):

• Kevin Jones, West Virginia: 7.45, 8.54
• Melvin Ejim, Iowa St.: 6.69, 9.63
• Malik Cooke, South Carolina: 6.34, 9.88
• Deshaun Thomas, Ohio St.: 3.54, 10.12
• Tyler Zeller, UNC: 7.24, 10.30
• JaMychael Green, Alabama: 7.53, 10.80
• Stephan Van Treese, Louisville: 3.55, 10.64
• Festus Azeli, Vanderbilt: 6.23, 10.66
• Terrence Jones, Kentucky: 8.84, 11.24
• Gorgui Dieng, Louisville: 4.41, 11.35
• Miles Plumlee, Duke: 4.78, 11.48
• Draymond Green, Michigan St.: 8.65, 11.50
• Toaryln Fitzpatrick, South Florida: 4.09, 11.54
• Reeves Nelson, UCLA: 9.01, 11.56 

15. Herb Pope, Seton Hall

RPG (P40): 7.87 (11.60)

ORPG (P40): 2.87 (4.23)

Herb Pope has gone through many hardships in his life. He suffered five gunshot wounds in 2007, then before last season, he collapsed due to coronary problems. 

Even after the near-death experience, Pope still managed to average almost eight rebounds a game, which was down from the 10 he averaged as a sophomore, but still amazing nonetheless.

Pope originally declared for the 2011 NBA Draft, but withdrew and will return for his senior season. At full strength, he could easily get back to leading the Big East in rebounding.

14. Joshua Smith, UCLA

RPG (P40): 6.33 (11.66)

ORPG (P40): 3.46 (6.36)

At 6'10" and 305 pounds, Josh Smith is pretty much impossible to move once he gets established in the paint.

As a true freshman, Smith averaged 6.3 rebounds in just more than 21 minutes per game. His large frame makes him both susceptible to both foul trouble and fatigue, but he should still see an increase in minutes and rebounds next season.

13. Mouphtaou Yarou, Villanova

RPG (P40): 7.06 (11.71)

ORPG (P40) 2.7 (4.47)

Mouphtaou Yarou started all 33 games for Villanova last season en route to more than seven rebounds per game. Despite increasing his playing time by only nine minutes from his freshman season, Yarou doubled his rebounding average.

He will a remain a focus next season for Villanova, but don't expect another big increase in minutes. Somewhere around eight rebounds per game should be a safe estimate.

12. Lance Gouldbourne, Vanderbilt

RPG (P40): 7.34 (11.76)

ORPG (P40): 1.91 (3.05)

Lance Goulbourne, who can play both guard or forward, may the best swingman rebounder in the country, and is an integral part of Vanderbilt's great rebounding team.

As a junior, the 6'6" junior averaged more than seven rebounds per game, an astonishing increase from the two rebounds per game the year before.

Goulbourne is blessed with terrific athleticism and has used that to become one of the best rebounders in the nation. 

11. Dante Taylor, Pittsburgh

RPG (P40): 4.49 (11.91)

ORPG (P40): 2.12 (5.63)

Despite playing only 15 minutes per game, Dante Taylor managed to grab almost five rebounds per game. 

With Gary McGhee now graduated, Taylor—the junior big man—should expect an increase in minutes. Expect a lot of double-doubles out of him in the Big East this year.  

10. Jordan Henriquez-Roberts, Kansas State

RPG (P40): 4.3 (12.64)

ORPG (P40): 1.676 (4.92)

Jordan Henriquez-Roberts didn't play a whole lot, but he pulled down a lot of the rebounds that came his way. 

On the defensive end, Henriquez-Roberts pulled down about 23 percent of the available rebounds, good for fifth in the Big 12. Being seven feet tall usually helps.

With graduations and expected improvement, the big guy down low should see a lot more than 13 minutes per game next season and as a result, will have impressive rebound totals.

Like Jay Bilas always says, you can't teach length.  

9. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

RPG (P40): 10.19 (12.87)

ORPG (P40): 3.54 (4.47)

The huge freshman from Ohio State was about as good last season as anyone could have expected. Sullinger scored 17 points and pulled down more than 10 rebounds per game. He was nearly unstoppable in the middle for the Buckeyes and surprised a lot of people by returning for his sophomore year.

Sullinger doesn't rank higher on this list because he was called upon to play so many minutes, therefore his rebounds per 40 minutes isn't higher.

Nonetheless, a list of best college rebounders absolutely cannot exclude Jared Sullinger. 

8. Mason Plumlee, Duke

RPG (P40): 8.46 (13.04)

ORPG (P40): 2.62 (4.04)

Mason Plumlee may not have developed into the overall player Duke has been hoping for, but there's no denying his prowess on the boards.

Plumlee averaged 26 minutes, but still found himself among the nation's leaders with 8.46 rebounds per game.

At 6'10", Plumlee doesn't necessarily do anything too exciting, but he is consistent and a hard-worker in the paint.

7. Aziz N'Diaye, Washington

RPG (P40): 5.71 (13.16)

ORPG (P40): 2.46 (5.67)

Aziz N'Diaye is still incredibly rusty on offense, but his seven-foot frame helps him pull down most of the balls in his range.

His hands are still as slippery as butter, but in his first season, N'Diaye was impressive. He pulled down 5.7 rebounds in just 17 minutes per game.

No matter how raw someone is, rebounding is a lot easier when you are seven feet tall.  

6. Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota

RPG (P40): 10.55 (13.65)

ORPG (P40): 3.13 (4.05)

At 6'8", Trevor Mbakwe still managed to pull down more than 10 rebounds per game last season.

Mbakwe makes up for the lack of typical big man height with a tireless motor and great work ethic. 

After transferring from Marquette, last year was Mbakwe's first season with any playing time. He should be among the nation's leaders again as a senior. 

5. Andre Roberson, Colorado

RPG (P40): 7.82 (14.02)

ORPG (P40): 2.79 (5)

Andre Roberson typically plays as a guard or small forward, making it all the more impressive that he finds himself fifth on this list.

At 6'7", Roberson relies on athleticism and smarts to get to rebounds. In just 22 minutes per game off the bench, he averaged almost eight rebounds per game.

I only expect an improvement from this freshman, and if he increases his scoring ability, he should really improve his draft stock as an electric double-double machine. 

4. Richard Howell, N.C. State

RPG (P40): 6.53 (14.34)

ORPG (P40): 2.8 (6.15)

He's only 6'8", but Richard Howell is 260 pounds and hard to move around.

Howell improved his all-around game last season, and the rebounding was no different. His minutes went up by only five per game, but his rebounds increased by two.

Howell still only got 18 minutes per game, but that number should only go up for his junior season, and at 14.34 rebounds per 40 minutes, he should easily be near the national leaders. 

3. Reggie Johnson, Miami

RPG (P40): 9.64 (14.85)

ORPG (P40): 3.5 (5.39)

Reggie Johnson is an absolute force in the middle. He stands at 6'10" and 303 pounds, and there's no question he's one of the best rebounders in the country.

In just 25 minutes per game, he averaged almost 10 rebounds. If he finds a way to stay in games for about 30 minutes, the North Carolina native could easily average a double-double per game and possibly even move his rebounds per game into the 12 range. 

2. John Henson, UNC

RPG (P40): 10.11 (15.13)

ORPG (P40): 3.24 (4.85)

John Henson is blessed with a unique combination of height and athleticism. He doesn't have the bulk of a normal big man, but he clearly doesn't need it in order to be a superb rebounder. 

Henson only averaged 26 minutes per game, but still found himself with double-digit rebound totals nearly every game. The fact that this kid is still extremely raw is a little scary.

If Henson ever maximizes his full potential, watch out. 

1. Thomas Robinson, Kansas

RPG (P40): 6.42 (17.59)

ORPG (P40): 2.24 (6.14)

Thomas Robinson was third in the country in offensive rebounding percentage, third in defensive rebounding percentage and first in rebounds per 40 minutes (ahead of Kenneth Faried). 

Throw in the fact that the Morris twins are now out of town, and Thomas Robinson could very well find himself at the top of the country in rebounding as a junior.