Class 1A: Top 10 Returning Rebounders
In this article:
1.) 2024 Qwintyn Vanatta (Essex) – 12.5 rebounds per game The Trojans won just four games last season, but Vanatta, a 6-4 big man, was a true standout, averaging 14.3 points and 2.0 blocks to go with his prowess on…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading1.) 2024 Qwintyn Vanatta (Essex) – 12.5 rebounds per game
The Trojans won just four games last season, but Vanatta, a 6-4 big man, was a true standout, averaging 14.3 points and 2.0 blocks to go with his prowess on the glass. He’s a physically imposing force in the paint with soft hands and good touch around the rim.
2.) 2024 Landon Frost (Don Bosco) – 11.7
Frost posted a very Dennis Rodman-esque stat line as a junior, averaging just 5.9 points a game but pulling down nearly 12 rebounds a night. He’s a menace on the offensive glass, grabbing over five offensive rebounds a game last season, helping a Dons team that struggled to shoot, get some valuable extra chances.
3.) 2024 Jackson Marnach (Akron-Westfield) – 11.2
The Westerners are another team that struggled last sesaon, winning just four games, but Marnach, a 6-5 forward, was a bright spot. He averaged 11.6 points and 11.2 rebounds as a junior while shooting nearly 44% from the floor.
4.) 2024 Tony Racine (Essex) – 11.1
Another Essex player on this top 10, Racine is a 6-0 guard who is a really good athlete. He loves to compete on the glass on both ends of the floor, and was a key part of a Trojans team that was among the best rebounding teams in the class last season.
5.) 2024 Christian Dahir (Tri-Center) – 11.1
A mobile 6-3 forward, Dahir added a lot of value for the Trojans on both ends of the floor as a junior, averaging 10.3 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.3 blocks a game. He’s an efficient offensive weapon (60.7 FG%) and a strong rim protector who should be one of the focal points of the Tri-Center attack as a senior.
6.) 2025 Aiden Stensrud Aiden Stensrud 6'6" | PF Lake Mills | 2025 State IA (Lake Mills) – 10.4
A big, physical 6-5 forward who has shown the ability to step out and occasionally knock down shots from the arc as well, Stensrud provides a ton of value on both ends of the floor for a Bulldogs team that has established themselves as one of the top programs in small school basketball over the last half-decade. He averaged 12.4 points on 62.9% shooting as a sophomore, and will step into an even bigger role this season for a team that will be among the best in the class.
7.) 2024 Drew Denekas Drew Denekas 6'2" | PF George-Little Rock | 2024 State IA (George-Little Rock) – 10.2
G-LR has a chance to surprise some people this winter, and Denekas, the 6-3 interior presence, is the primary reason why. A versatile weapon who can score inside and out, he’s also a capable playmaker with good court vision and he’s clearly an excellent rebounder.
8.) 2025 Emiliano Barrantes Emiliano Barrantes 6'9" | PF Grand View Christian | 2025 State IA (Grand View Christian) – 10.1
The Thunder will be a largely new look team this season following the graduations of three of their top four scorers, and Barrantes will be asked to shoulder a heavy load, something he looks capable of doing. He looked noticeably stronger when we saw GVC play in June, and when you combine his size (6-10), length, and athleticism, he’s going to be tough for 1A teams to keep off the glass and off the scoreboard this season.
9.) 2024 Titus Barber (Murray) – 9.7
Barber has legitimate size, listed at 6-7, and he’s a dominant rim protector who turned away nearly five shots a game last season. An efficient interior scorer who controls the glass on both ends of the floor, he’ll be the top player for the Mustangs this winter.
10.) 2025 Colby Eskildsen Colby Eskildsen 6'6" | SF Northwood-Kensett | 2025 State IA (Northwood-Kensett) – 9.6
Eskildsen is a talented, do-it-all wing who stuffs the stat sheet in a variety of ways for the Vikings. A 6-3/6-4 wing with good size and athleticism, he averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.2 steals to go with his rebounding.