Rueben Chinyelu withdraws from draft, returns to Gators

Field Level Media|published: Mon 19th May, 13:17 2025

NCAA Basketball: Final Four National Championship-Houston vs Florida

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