Tobe Awaka might not be in Arizona's starting five this season, but make no mistake - he's anchoring one of the most dominant rebounding efforts in college basketball from the bench. And if he keeps this up, he won’t just be remembered as a key contributor - he’ll be etched into the Wildcats' record books.
Through 21 games in the 2025-26 season, Awaka is on pace to break the Arizona single-season record for total rebounding percentage, currently sitting at a staggering 25.25%. That number doesn’t just lead the Wildcats - it leads the entire country.
What makes it even more remarkable? He’s doing it in just 20.9 minutes per game.
Let’s put that into perspective: Awaka is pulling down 22.69% of all available offensive rebounds while he’s on the floor - the best mark in the nation. That kind of relentless activity on the glass has propelled Arizona to third nationally in rebounding margin at +13.0 per game. Even Florida, the country’s top rebounding team by margin, got edged out 41-39 when they faced the Wildcats - a game that showcased exactly how much of an impact Arizona’s frontcourt, led by Awaka and center Motiejus Krivas, can have.
Despite his bench role, Awaka is averaging 9.7 rebounds per game - 22nd in the nation - and 3.9 offensive boards, good for ninth. He’s posted eight double-digit rebounding games this season and has notched three double-doubles.
His two biggest rebounding performances came in November: 18 boards against Utah Tech and 16 versus Denver. And he’s not just cleaning the glass - he dropped a career-high 25 points earlier this month against Arizona State, showing he can score when called upon.
What’s especially impressive is the contrast to last season. In 2024-25, Awaka started 36 of 37 games for Arizona.
This year, he’s embraced a sixth-man role - and somehow, his production has gone up. Outside of a slight dip in shooting percentages, nearly every other stat has improved.
He’s playing fewer minutes, but producing more. That’s the definition of efficiency.
To understand just how historic Awaka’s season is shaping up to be, here’s a look at the top single-season rebounding percentages in Arizona history:
- Tobe Awaka (2025-26) - 25.2% (projected)
- Deandre Ayton (2017-18) - 21.4%
- Oumar Ballo (2023-24) - 21.1%
- Ryan Anderson (2015-16) - 19.9%
- Kaleb Tarczewski (2015-16) - 19.5%
That’s elite company. Ayton not only holds the current record for rebound percentage, but also owns the Arizona single-season rebounding total with 405 boards. Meanwhile, Bill Reeves still holds the program’s highest single-season average at 13.2 per game, a mark that’s stood since 1955-56.
Awaka may not hit those raw numbers due to his minutes, but he’s on pace to crack Arizona’s all-time top 10 for total rebounds in a season - likely during the Big XII or NCAA Tournament. For context, Ąžuolas Tubelis sits 10th on that list with 320 rebounds in 35 games during the 2022-23 season.
And while he hasn’t been in the national Sixth Man of the Year conversation quite like Iowa State’s Curtis Jones - who averaged 17.4 points and now suits up for the Denver Nuggets - Awaka’s impact is undeniable. He’s not just a spark off the bench; he’s a game-changer in the paint, a relentless rebounder, and a key reason Arizona is in the mix nationally.
If the Wildcats make a deep run in March, don’t be surprised if Awaka’s name is front and center - not just in the box score, but in the program’s history books.