College Basketball Power Rankings: The Top 10 Rebounders In the Country

Morehead State’s NCAA tournament splash last March gave fans a chance to appreciate one of college basketball’s all-time great rebounders, Kenneth Faried. Faried is headed to the Denver Nuggets, but the college game still has its share of forwards who know how to pound the glass.

Like Faried, some of the best rebounders find themselves at some of the least known schools. Others, like Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger, are front and center in the discussions for national title contenders and national Player of the Year honors.

Herein, the ten most talented glass cleaners in the college ranks for 2011-12.

10. Dario Hunt, Nevada

Perhaps the most fittingly-named member of the Wolf Pack, Dario Hunt led Nevada with 1.7 blocks a game in 2010-11.

More strikingly, he led the entire WAC with 9.7 rebounds a night.

The 6’8” Hunt has improved his scoring average from 3.6 points a game as a freshman to 12.4 last year.

Although Utah State is the presumptive favorite for the conference championship again, another big year from Nevada’s rising senior PF could have them, well, in the Hunt.

9. Greg Mangano, Yale

For all that 6’10” forwards have a decided advantage in Ivy League competition, Greg Mangano can play a little in his own right.

Purdue coach Matt Painter, who knows a thing or two about post players, selected Mangano to play for Team USA at this summer’s World University games.

Mangano, a rising senior, scored 16.3 points and pulled in a league-best 10 rebounds a game for the Bulldogs last year.

He may not be able to carry his team past league powers Harvard and Princeton, but don’t expect his numbers to go anywhere but up in 2011-12.

8. Reggie Johnson, Miami

Even on this list, few players look the part of the dominating post presence like Miami’s Reggie Johnson.

The 6’10”, 303-lb center has the game to go with his impressive frame, averaging 9.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks a game last season.

Although Johnson scored an unremarkable 11.9 points a game, his .591 field goal percentage suggests that he has the potential to put a lot more points on the board.

Once he returns from this summer’s knee surgery, he’ll be a big-time force in the paint for the Hurricanes.

7. Samme Givens, Drexel

For all the buzz around the CAA in the last few years, Drexel hasn’t made much of an appearance on the national radar.

The Dragons do have one player worthy of big-time buzz, though, in 6’5” forward Samme Givens.

Despite his unremarkable size, Givens averaged a CAA-high 10.1 rebounds a game last season (20th in the nation).

He may not turn into an NBA prospect like Kenneth Faried, but Givens will give Drexel fans plenty to cheer about in 2011-12.

Image from drexeldragons.com

6. Arsalan Kazemi, Rice

Rice University doesn’t exactly have a grand tradition as a basketball power, but that didn’t stop them from landing one of the top import players in the country in Arsalan Kazemi.

The 6’7” Iranian led the Owls with averages of 15.2 points and 11 rebounds (seventh in the nation) a season ago.

Even with Kazemi’s efforts, the Owls managed only a 5-11 record in Conference USA last year.

He may not be able to turn an otherwise unimpressive team into a contender, but Kazemi will still be a player to watch for C-USA fans in 2011-12.

5. John Henson, North Carolina

Though he’s not even the biggest body on his own team—that would be 7’0”, 250-lb Tyler Zeller—North Carolina’s John Henson is the ACC’s most imposing interior presence.

Zeller led the conference in both rebounds (10.1) and blocks (3.2) per game in 2010-11.

The 6’10” rising junior hasn’t put up monster scoring numbers (11.4 points a game last season), but he also isn’t asked to score that much in the Tar Heels’ loaded offense.

If he continues to hold down the middle as well as he did last season, North Carolina will be one step closer to yet another national title.

4. Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk State

This year’s Kenneth Faried Best-Big-Man-From-A-School-You’ve-Barely-Heard-Of Award goes to Kyle O’Quinn.

Although his Norfolk State Spartans finished 12-20 (including 8-8 in the lowly MEAC), O’Quinn was one of the country’s most overpowering frontcourt players.

His 16.4 points a game were impressive enough, but O’Quinn averaged 11.1 rebounds (fifth-best nationally) and 3.4 blocks (fourth-best).

The 6’10” rising senior might even manage—like Oakland’s Keith Benson this spring—to play his way into the NBA draft by season’s end.

3. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

The best offensive weapon on this list by a wide margin, Jared Sullinger averaged 17.2 points a game as a freshman in the Big Ten last season.

He did the dirty work under the boards, too, pulling in 10.1 rebounds a game.

The 6’9”, 280-lb Sullinger is one of the best pro prospects in the country, as well as the key to Ohio State’s championship hopes.

It’s hard to imagine him being anything less than superlative for the Buckeyes this season.

2. Chris Gaston, Fordham

The 2010-11 season couldn’t have gone much worse for a Fordham squad that finished 1-15 in the Atlantic 10 and 287th nationally in scoring.

On the glass, though, the Rams were a (relative) power, 39th in the country, thanks to sophomore forward Chris Gaston.

The 6’7” Gaston leads all returning players in the nation with his 11.3 rebounds per game, and he also gave his team 15.9 points and 1.5 blocks a night.

Fordham appears to be beyond any help, but Gaston will give Rams’ fans a few highlights to enjoy from this season.

1. Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota

If Trevor Mbakwe had played on a contender instead of the 17-14 Golden Gophers, it’s likely he’d be getting talked about in the same breath as Jared Sullinger and Terrence Jones.

The 6’8” Mbakwe led the Big Ten with 10.5 rebounds a game (12th-best nationally) while also scoring a team-high 13.9 points and blocking 1.5 shots a game.

Mbakwe, a top-tier athlete, starred for Team USA at this summer’s World University Games.

If he continues playing to the lofty standards he’s set for himself, he may drag Minnesota into Big Ten relevance by sheer force of will.