Rueben Chinyelu - College Basketball News & Rumors

Florida's Alex Condon is staying in school, boosting the chances of the NCAA champs repeating

Florida forward Alex Condon has withdrawn from the NBA draft and will return to school for his junior season

MAY 27, 2025 • Associated Press

Former Arkansas standout Boogie Fland commits to national champion Florida

Former Arkansas standout Boogie Fland, widely considered the top guard in the transfer portal, has chosen to play for defending national champion Florida

MAY 20, 2025 • Associated Press

Florida basketball's starting center Rueben Chinyelu returns for 2025-26 campaign Florid basketballs starting center during its 2024-25 championship run announced he will return to Gainesville for the 2025-26 campaign.

MAY 19, 2025 • USATODAY.COM

Will withdraw from NBA Draft Chinyelu will withdraw from the 2025 NBA Draft, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact Less than 10 days before Chinyelu needed to make his decision on using his collegiate eligibility or not, he fastened the process and has withdrawn from the NBA Draft. The center never entered the NCAA's transfer portal, which means he will re-enroll at Florida. The defending champions got 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds from their starting center. Chinyelu has room to improve in free-throw percentage (58.2) and rates in other areas, but a strong base in rebounds and field goal percentage (59.9) should make him a hot commodity next season.

MAY 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Florida raises basketball coach Todd Golden's salary to $6M annually after national title

Florida basketball coach Todd Golden has signed a contract extension that raises his annual salary to $6 million

MAY 6, 2025 • Associated Press

Rueben Chinyelu declares for NBA Draft, keeps door open for Florida basketball return Florida center Rueben Chinyelu, a key piece of the Gators' title run, declares for the 2025 NBA Draft while keeping his college eligibility...

APRIL 18, 2025 • USATODAY.COM

Preparing for NBA Draft Chinyelu has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft while maintaining his remaining eligibility, per Graham Hall of 247Sports.com.

Impact Chinyelu will look to the NBA following a national championship with Florida in his sophomore season. The 6-foot-10 big man played a solid role for the Gators this season, averaging six points and 6.6 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game while starting every game this season. With his remaining eligibility intact, it's possible Chinyelu is simply testing the waters at the pro level to help improve his game, though he will have until June 15 to make that decision.

APRIL 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Former Princeton point guard Xaivian Lee commits to national champion Florida

Former Princeton standout guard Xaivian Lee has committed to national champion Florida and should immediately help the Gators fill a huge hole in their uber-talented backcourt

APRIL 17, 2025 • Associated Press

Florida shows up late again, this time for the team's championship celebration on campus

It was fitting that Florida arrived nearly two hours late to its on-campus celebration

APRIL 8, 2025 • Associated Press

Resilient Florida relies on defense and playmakers to overcome frustration in NCAA title game

Dribbles bounced off hips, no-look passes went to no one and Florida’s talisman point guard couldn’t make a basket

APRIL 8, 2025 • Associated Press

'My idol': Florida basketball's Chinyelu eager to play in front of fellow Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon Florida basketball's Rueben Chinyelu has looked up to Hakeem Olajuwon his entire life. Monday night, he'll play in front of his idol and his...

APRIL 7, 2025 • GAINESVILLE.COM

Condon and Gators are tall and long but ready for a physical matchup with Houston in the NCAA final

Florida’s Alex Condon has already been through the physical battle with Auburn’s Johni Broome and came out the other side battered but victorious

APRIL 6, 2025 • Associated Press

Nine boards in Final Four win Chinyelu had five points (2-2 FG, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, one assist and two steals across 23 minutes during Saturday's 79-73 victory over Auburn.

Impact Chinyelu doesn't offer much on the offensive side, but he's posting 7.4 rpg through five NCAA Tournament games. The 6-10 transfer from Washington State is playing his best basketball when it matters most, and those contributions will be needed again Monday against a physical Houston front line.

APRIL 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Florida's Rueben Chinyelu called for Flagrant 1 foul in Final Four second half vs Auburn Florida forward Rueben Chinyelu was handed a Flagrant 1 foul for an elbow to an Auburn defender in the Final Four on Saturday:

APRIL 6, 2025 • JACKSONVILLE.COM

'Rueben is my guy': Former Warriors center Festus Ezeli celebrates as protege Rueben Chinyelu heads to Final Four Former Warriors big man Festus Ezeli made sure to stop by Chase Center in San Francisco to watch his protege, Florida’s Rueben Chinyelu, adv...

MARCH 30, 2025 • MERCURYNEWS.COM

Florida's Micah Handlogten anticipates an emotional return to Nashville and the SEC tourney

Florida center Micah Handlogten, who gruesomely broke his left leg in the Southeastern Conference Tournament finale a year ago, is returning to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn...

MARCH 11, 2025 • Associated Press

Double-digit rebounding effort Chinyelu chipped in nine points (4-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds, one block and two steals in 20 minutes during Wednesday's 99-94 win over Alabama.

Impact Chinyelu was coming off a season-low seven minutes last Saturday in a scoreless effort against Texas A&M, but he was able to bounce back here, contributing in all categories. His minutes may be at risk now that the Florida frontcourt is at full strength, but the 6-10 sophomore remains a key part of a deep rotation of big men, particularly for his defensive efforts.

MARCH 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Chinyelu's 19 points and 13 rebounds leads No. 2 Florida past LSU 79-65

Rueben Chinyelu had a career-high 19 points to go with 13 rebounds and No. 2 Florida roared back from an eight-point second-half deficit to beat LSU 79-65

FEBRUARY 23, 2025 • Associated Press

Scoring renaissance late in '24-25 Chinyelu ended Tuesday's 85-63 win over Oklahoma with 11 points (5-7 FG, 1-3 FT) and two rebounds over 24 minutes.

Impact Chinyelu's impact as a scorer looked to be all but over after the first week of February, but he's now logged three consecutive double-digit scoring affairs while shooting 68.4 percent from the field in that time. The Gators have proven to be one of the deepest teams in the country this season, and Chinyelu's miniature hot streak with March on the horizon is the latest example.

FEBRUARY 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Dwindling impact Chinyelu accumulated four points (2-3 FG) and two rebounds in 12 minutes during Tuesday's 86-75 victory over Vanderbilt.

Impact Chinyelu only played 12 minutes in the Gators' takedown of Vanderbilt. The forward has started every game this season, but has had a limited impact, especially as of late. The sophomore hasn't scored in double figures since Jan. 14, and averages less than four shots per-game.

FEBRUARY 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Pulls down 15 boards Chinyelu recorded four points (2-5 FG, 0-1 FT), 15 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal across 22 minutes during Tuesday's 73-43 victory over Tennessee.

Impact Chinyelu picked the perfect time to set a season-best rebounding total and log his second double-digit game of the year, as it was key in keeping the No. 1-ranked Volunteers from getting second-chance points on a night in which the offense struggled. Chinyelu has actually increased his scoring average from last season at Washington State, but it's the 7.3 rpg average that the Gators rely on with plenty of other offensive options in the lineup.

JANUARY 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Quiet early in 2024-2025 Chinyelu closed Saturday's 83-66 victory over Arizona State with six points (3-3 FG), eight rebounds and one block across 18 minutes.

Impact Chinyelu doesn't need to be a great scorer when Florida has Walter Clayton and Alijah Martin. That's good news, because he's averaging 5.6 points on 3.9 shots early in the season. The center just hasn't taken matters into his own hands offensively, but he'll continue to be a key piece in the Gators front court.

DECEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Meet the Gators: Rueben Chinyelu Chinyelu spent his freshman season at Washington State in 2023-24

MAY 1, 2024 • 247SPORTS.COM

Gators a 'perfect' match for big man Rueben Chinyelu Chinyelu spent his freshman season as Washington State in 2023-24

APRIL 23, 2024 • 247SPORTS.COM

Leaving Washington State Chinyelu entered the transfer portal Friday, Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Chinyelu averaged 4.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 13.9 minutes as a freshman for Washington State. Chinyelu will look for a new program after making 35 appearances, including 12 starts for the Cougars.

MARCH 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

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