Rueben Chinyelu withdraws from NBA draft, returns to Florida
![Florida center Rueben Chinyelu (9) shoots during second half of NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. Florida won 114-55.[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200,fo-auto/28553809.jpg)
Florida center Rueben Chinyelu (9) shoots during second half of NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. Florida won 114-55.[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft and will return to a loaded Florida lineup, the university announced on Thursday.
Chinyelu, 22, averaged 10.9 points and 11.2 rebounds in 35 games (all starts) last season for the Gators. The 6-foot-11, 245-pound center set Florida single-season records with 19 double-doubles and 137 offensive rebounds.
Chinyelu took part in the NBA combine in Chicago last week before opting to return to Gainesville, Fla.
Florida has 11 players returning from a team that won the Southeastern Conference championship in 2025-26. Those players include All-SEC forwards Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as well as guard Boogie Fland.
Chinyelu has played two seasons at Florida after transferring from Washington State following the 2023-24 campaign.
--Field Level Media
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