Les Schwab Invitational – Top Rebounders

The 28th annual Les Schwab Invitational took place at the end of 2024 and this year it was at a brand new venue - Viking Pavilion on the campus of Portland State University. We had the opportunity to drop by and take in some of the action over the five days the tournament was being held and while our focus was mainly on the consolation rounds, we did get a chance to see all of the in-state teams perform at least once.   Here's a look at the top rebounders from Oregon in the event:    Clarke led the entire tournament in rebounding at 9.5 rpg, and posted two double-doubles in the process - a 13-point, 13-rebound game in the opener against Gonzaga College Prep and then a 15-point, 15-rebound performance against Grant. The fact he almost averaged double figures in rebounding despite only 2 rebounds in a foul-plagued game against Mountainside was quite impressive.     Paschal averaged 9.3 rpg, which included a 17-rebound effort against Jesuit in the quarterfinals - nine of the rebounds were on the offensive boards. As opposed to many of the other top rebounders in the tournament, the senior didn't have raw size but rather used his athleticism and motor to effectively compete on the glass.     At only 6-foot-1, Eno is the shortest member of the leaderboard yet he managed to average 8.5 rpg. A track standout that competes in the high and long jumps, it's not a surprise the senior has the athleticism to compete on the glass along with a non-stop motor and dedication to getting physical. His 15-rebound performance against Southridge in the opening round was among the best single-game efforts in the tournament.     Owens averaged 8.0 rpg during the LSI and was one of the top offensive rebounders in the tournament, grabbing 3.0 per game. Long and lanky, the junior used his length to compete on the glass and it often led to second and third chances for the Roughriders on the offensive end.     Nicolson averaged 6.8 rpg - of which almost half were on the offensive glass, averaging 2.8 per game. The junior has good length and athleticism and during the event showed the willingness to mix things up underneath with some of the bigger players the Rams went up against.     Tough tournament for Baker going winless in four games, but a bright spot was Jones who averaged 6.8 rpg to rank among the event leaders. A little undersized at 6-foot-3, the junior who holds D-I football offers (and is also a track star) utilized his strength and athleticism to help the Bulldogs compete on the glass on both ends of the floor.     McCarty averaged 6.5 rpg, despite playing alongside teammate [player_tooltip player_id='2080025' first='Jack' last='Clarke'] who led the event in rebounding. The 6-foot-5 senior is a raw athlete with a wiry strong frame and high motor, which allowed him to effectively compete on the boards in every game - even taking away some rebounds from his own teammate but in a good way.     The top backcourt rebounder at the LSI from in-state was Atkins, who averaged 6.5 rpg. As you might expect, many of his rebounds came from the defensive side of the ball at a 5.5 per game clip. The senior has always possessed the strength to be an effective rebounder and his ability to grab the board and immediately take the ball upcourt to get the team in transition was a major plus.

The 28th annual Les Schwab Invitational took place at the end of 2024 and this year it was at a brand new venue - Viking Pavilion on the campus of Portland State University. We had the opportunity to drop by and take in some of the action over the five days the tournament was being held and while our focus was mainly on the consolation rounds, we did get a chance to see all of the in-state teams perform at least once.