Apr 7, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) cuts down a pice of the net after defeating the Houston Cougars in the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Florida starting center Rueben Chinyelu withdrew from the NBA draft and will return to the defending champion Gators for the 2025-26 season, CBS Sports reported Monday.
The 6-foot-10 Chinyelu participated in the NBA G League Elite Camp last week.
Chinyelu averaged 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in 40 starts for the Gators last season, his first in Gainesville. He played at Washington State as a 2023-24 freshman.
So far, Chinyelu is the only starter returning from last year’s championship team. Alex Condon also declared for the June 25-26 draft and has until May 28 to decide to stay in or return to Florida.
Starting guards Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard are all out of eligibility.
–Field Level Media
