Nigeria’s Rueben Chinyelu has withdrawn from the 2025 NBA draft and will return to the University of Florida to play for the Gators in the 2025-26 season, Afrosport reports.
Chinyelu was the starting center for Florida as the Gators beat the University of Houston 65-63 to win the 2025 NCAA Men’s National Basketball Tournament in April.
The 6-foot-11 Nigerian, who played at Washington State in his freshman year, 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 Florida, and finished with three points, five rebounds, and a block in the title game against the Houston Cougars.
Déjà vu….
Iykyk… pic.twitter.com/9Tlin8WZpa
— RUEBEN ABUCHI CHINYELU (@am_rueben) May 19, 2025
The NBA Africa Academy graduate is the only starter returning to the Gators from their championship team, with guards Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard all ineligible.
Meanwhile, forward Alex Condon, who also declared for the 2025 NBA draft, has until 28 May to make a decision either to remain or return to Florida.
This year’s NBA draft will be held on 25-26 June at the Barclay Center in New York, the home of the Brooklyn Nets.
