GAINESVILLE — Florida center Rueben Chinyelu will return to the Gators after starting every game and providing a physical presence in the paint for coach Todd Golden’s national champions.
The 6-foot-10, 260-pound Chinyelu’s decision comes after the 21-year-old native of Nigeria explored his professional options following his first season in Gainesville after he transferred from Washington State.
Coming off a 36-4 season, the Gators will feature a retooled roster after losing the team’s top three scorers, led by All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr.
Chinyelu, who withdrew from the NBA draft on Monday, aims to anchor a front court still facing questions as Golden awaits power forward Alex Condon’s NBA decision. Condon said last week he would likely remain in next month’s draft if he were guaranteed he’d be selected between the No. 20 to 35 spots.
Following the completion of the scouting combine Sunday, ESPN.com’s latest mock draft projects San Antonio to select Condon at No. 38. Condon has until May 28 to decide whether to keep his name in the draft or return to Florida.
![Florida forward Alex Condon, facing front, hugs guard Bennett Andersen after a Sweet 16 win over Maryland in March in San Francisco. The Gators await Condon's NBA decision.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 413"/%3E)
Florida forward Alex Condon, facing front, hugs guard Bennett Andersen after a Sweet 16 win over Maryland in March in San Francisco. The Gators await Condon's NBA decision. [ GODOFREDO A. VÁSQUEZ | AP ]
Condon’s return would greatly enhance an already solid interior foundation that would feature Chinyelu; budding star Thomas Haugh, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound rising junior also able to play on the wing; and 7-foot-1, 255-pound Micah Handlogten, who will be a senior after returning in February from a serious leg injury suffered 11 months earlier.
Chinyelu averaged 6.6 rebounds, second on the team to Condon, and six points while shooting 59.9% from the field but just 58.2% from the foul line. Chinyelu’s best performance was a 19-point, 13-rebound outing during a 79-65 win Feb. 22 at LSU, one of four double-doubles in 2024-25.
He also recorded a career-high 15 rebounds during Florida’s 73-43 rout of top-ranked Tennessee Jan. 7 in Gainesville.
UF signed Princeton transfer Xavian Lee and Ohio University’s AJ Brown, a native of Orlando, to rebuild the backcourt. Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland was in Gainesville Monday and Tuesday for a visit.
Gators open against Arizona
The Gators will begin their national title defense with a high-profile matchup against national power Arizona in Las Vegas, the school announced Monday.
The Gators and Wildcats will meet Nov. 3 at T-Mobile Arena as part of a doubleheader that also will include a matchup between Villanova and BYU.
UF defeated Houston 65-63 on April 7 for the Gators’ third national title, while Arizona lost 100-93 to Duke in the Sweet 16. The Wildcats tied for third with BYU in the Big 12, won by Houston.
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Florida also will face UConn on Dec. 9 at the Jimmy V Classic in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Clemson and BYU will square off during the other game of the doubleheader.
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