Class 4A/5A: Top Rebounders Returning In 2024-25

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024-25 high school basketball season is still five months away but we're already taking a look at some of the top players for next campaign. Here are some of the top rebounders in Class 5A and 4A returning this winter:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2681011' first='Xavier' last='Abernathy'], Bloomfield</strong>: As a 6-foot-0 guard, Abernathy brings the heat every game by scoring, distributing the ball and rebounding. He averaged 6.2 rebounds per game in 2023-24. Bloomfield looks to advance deeper in the 4A playoffs after losing to Valley in the 1^st round in March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687823' first='Thomas' last='Adams'], Sandia</strong>: Adams is one of the most complete players in the Albuquerque Metro region. He scores (15.9 ppg), rebounds (6.2 rpg), passes the ball (3.2 apg) and hits 3-pointers (41 percent). Adams will play at the next level. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687863' first='Kayle' last='Covington'], Lovington</strong>: The 6-foot-4 Covington was one of the top rebounders in the state last season as he averaged 9.7 rpg. His 261 total rebounds were by far the most in Class 4A. But he can also score and make shots. He earned First Team All-District and Second-Team All-State honors in 2023-24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2685163' first='Mateo' last='Gonzalez'], Rio Grande</strong>: The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Gonzalez's playing time increased five-fold in 2023-24, and for good reason. He was the state's top rebounder for the 2025 class, averaging 7.5 rpg. Look for him to become a bigger part of Rio Grande's offense in 2024-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Parker Henderson, Hobbs</strong>: The 7-foot-0 Henderson is enjoying a superb summer circuit and his efforts paid off Tuesday when he was invited to the prestigious College Basketball Academy in Rock Hill, SC on July 23-25. Last season Henderson averaged 6.6 rebounds per game. He could be a dominant player in 2024-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2143685' first='Sebastian' last='Hernandez'], Highland</strong>: The Hornets won the Class 4A title because players like Hernandez put the team first. He contributed to the scoring column but his main job was to ferociously attack the glass, which he did by averaging 6.2 rpg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176304' first='Isai' last='Herrera'], Highland</strong>: Another Hornet standout who does a lot of things very well. He averaged 6.0 rebounds per game while scoring over 9 points and hitting 3-pointers. Highland is set up nicely for another championship run in 2024-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1276352' first='Mason' last='Howell'], Sandia</strong>: The 6-foot-9 Howell brings size and skill to the Matadors. His main job last season was to rebound and block shots, and he performed those tasks very well by averaging 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176299' first='Daniel' last='Lovato'], ABC Prep</strong>: The 6-foot-6 Lovato averaged 12.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the Bears in&nbsp; 2023-24. Tuesday, he confirmed on social media that he will attend ABC Prep in Albuquerque for his senior season. Lovato drew raves from analysts for his performance at a camp in Colorado this past weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2373625' first='Jairus' last='Turrubiates'], Hobbs</strong>: Hobbs will have a heckuva front line in 2024-25 with Henderson and the 6-foot-6 Turrubiates. He averaged 7.0 rebounds per game and shot close to 50 percent from the field as a junior last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/pksome77/status/1805630119551418776","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/pksome77/status/1805630119551418776 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/HoopsInTheQ/status/1805637889511792885","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/HoopsInTheQ/status/1805637889511792885 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/NXTPROMidwest/status/1784653491723542968","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NXTPROMidwest/status/1784653491723542968 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/pksome77/status/1804654905975882115","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/pksome77/status/1804654905975882115 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->