Final season, the Florida Gators defeated the Houston Cougars within the 2024 Nationwide Championship. It’s the Gators’ third basketball title in program historical past.
Forward of the 2025 NBA draft, certainly one of Florida’s starters put his title in rivalry to be drafted. It was huge man, Rueben Chinyelu. After additional consideration, he’s withdrawing his title from the draft and is returning to the Gators in 2025-26.
Rueben Chinyelu is withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft
Déjà vu….🥷🏽
Iykyk… pic.twitter.com/9Tlin8WZpa
— RUEBEN ABUCHI CHINYELU (@am_rueben) Could 19, 2025
In 2024-25, Rueben Chinyelu began all 40 video games for the Florida Gators. Chinyelu was a switch from Washington State, the place he performed one season in 2023-24. Micah Handlogten was recovering from a fractured leg, and that allowed Chinyelua to be a full-time starter in his first season with Florida. For the Nationwide Championship Gators roster, Chinyelu averaged 19.0 minutes, 6.0 factors, and 6.6 rebounds per sport. He was handiest underneath the rim, and his presence was felt on protection.
The Nigerian is taken into account a uncooked prospect offensively. That’s doubtless why Chinyelu has determined to withdraw his title from the 2025 NBA draft in June. As a substitute, he’ll return for his Junior season in Gainesville. Earlier this month, Rueben Chinyelu hinted he would return to Florida if his suggestions was less than par. That appears to be the case for the nationwide champion middle.
Rueben Chinyelu went by the G League Elite Camp however felt staying at Florida was his most suitable choice. Micah Handlogten will return from harm for the 2025-26 season. Chinyelu and himself will doubtless cut up time at middle. One other participant the Gators are ready on is Alex Condon. The Aussie additionally entered the 2025 NBA draft, however has time to withdraw. Condon needs affirmation that he’ll be picked within the 15-30 vary. If a group can assure that, he’ll preserve his title in. In any other case, he already advised reporters the one college he’ll come again for is Florida. The Gators might have a loaded frontcourt if Chinyelu and Condon return.
