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Florida Center Rueben Chinyelu Is Coming Back for His Senior Season
Chinyelu averaged 10.9 points and 11.2 rebounds last season and returns after going undrafted in first-round mock projections.
- On Thursday, Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu announced he will withdraw from the NBA draft and return for his senior season, strengthening the team's frontcourt for 2026-27.
- Despite performing well at the AWS NBA Draft Combine, Chinyelu faced uncertainty as a potential second-round prospect and prioritized long-term development over entering a loaded draft.
- Earning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year honors, Chinyelu became the first Florida player in 50 years to average a double-double, totaling 11.2 rebounds per game and leading all power-conference players.
- Coach Todd Golden's roster, expected to cost roughly $25 million, retains more than 80% of last season's scoring and features All-SEC forwards Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon.
- Aiming to rebound from a second-round NCAA Tournament exit, the Gators seek another title to add to the program's 2025 crown, a goal Chinyelu said is driven by wanting to "do something special.
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Rueben Chinyelu withdraws from NBA draft, return to Florida
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
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C 50%
11%
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