Rueben Chinyelu Withdraws From NBA Draft, Returning to Florida After 6-foot-10 Center Drew First-Round Buzz
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 21
Rueben Chinyelu Withdraws From NBA Draft, Returning to Florida After 6-foot-10 Center Drew First-Round Buzz
8 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 21
Florida’s 6-foot-10 starting center Rueben Chinyelu said Thursday he will skip the 2026 NBA Draft and return to Gainesville for his final season of eligibility.
Chinyelu had been projected anywhere from the late first round to the middle of the second after a strong combine and a season in which he won SEC and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year honors.
His return keeps Florida’s frontcourt intact with Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh from a team that went 16-2 in the SEC and earned a No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
That continuity strengthens Florida’s case as the preseason No. 1 team as the Gators try to rebound from a second-round NCAA tournament exit and chase next year’s Final Four in Detroit.
With a dominant frontcourt secured, what is the one missing piece Florida needs to guarantee a national title?
Can Florida's returning stars handle the immense pressure of being #1 and avoid another stunning tournament upset?
Did the nation's best defender make a championship move or a costly career gamble by spurning the NBA?