2025-26 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF/C
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Jersey Number 9
Rueben Chinyelu
- Position:
- Center
- Height:
- 6-10
- Weight:
- 265
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Enugwu-Agidi, Nigeria
- High School:
- Stade Malien (BAL)
Overview
Honors
2025-26, Junior Season
2024-25, Sophomore Season
2023-24, Freshman Season (Washington State)
Prep
Off the Court
- Has totaled 620 points and 655 rebounds in 75 games over two seasons with the Gators, starting all 75 games and helping UF to a 63-12 record, the 2025 national championship, 2025 SEC Tournament championship and the 2026 SEC championship.
- Averaged 10.9 points and 11.2 rebounds in 2025-26, becoming the first Gator in 50 years to average double-figure rebounds.
- Started all 40 games for the Gators’ 2025 national championship team, averaging 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds with a .599 field goal percentage and 34 blocked shots.
- Joined the Gators in 2024, transferring to UF after one season at Washington State.
- Totaled 165 points, 174 rebounds and 45 blocked shots in 35 appearances with 12 starts during his freshman season at Washington State.
- Has 785 points and 829 rebounds in his collegiate career across 110 appearances and 87 starts.
- Attended the NBA Academy Africa and competed in the 2022 NBA Academy Games, where he led NBA Academy Africa to a first-place finish.
- Brings international experience, helping Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2019 FIBA U16 African Championship while averaging 12.3 rebounds and 17.6 rebounds. Made his senior national team debut in 2023 during World Cup Qualifiers.
Honors
- 2026 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year
- 2026 NABC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2026 SEC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2026 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- 2026 AP All-America Honorable Mention
- 2026 All-SEC (AP first team, coaches second team)
- 2026 SEC All-Defensive Team
- 2026 SEC Community Service Team
- SEC Player of the Week (1/19/26)
- USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week (1/21/26)
2025-26, Junior Season
- Averaged 10.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per game with 36 blocked shots, 27 steals and 23 assists, starting all 35 games for the SEC champion Gators.
- Became the first Gator to win a national defensive player of the year honor, bringing home both the Naismith and the NABC awards.
- Became the first Gator since 1975-76 to average double-figure rebounds or a double-double, last accomplished by Bob Smyth (13.3 ppg, 12.7 rpg).
- His 11.2 rebounds per game led the SEC and ranked fourth in the nation. His 3.9 offensive rebounds and 7.3 defensive rebounds per game also led the SEC.
- Grabbed 21 rebounds vs. LSU and Merrimack and 20 at Georgia, becoming the fourth player in program history and the first in more than 50 years with at least three career 20-rebound games (Neal Walk, 7; Chip Williams, 4; Cliff Luyk, 3). He was also the fourth SEC player with 21+ rebounds in a game in SEC play this century, joining Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky), Sindarius Thornwell (South Carolina) and Lawrence Roberts (Mississippi State).
- Set a Florida record with 137 offensive rebounds, shattering the previous record of 114 by Dwayne Davis (1988-89).
- Also set a Florida record with 19 double-doubles in a season, breaking Bob Smyth’s record of 18 (1975-76).
- His 393 total rebounds marked the #3 single-season total in UF history, trailing only a pair of performances by the legendary Neal Walk.
- Earned his first career SEC Player of the Week honors after posting 20 points and 10 rebounds at #10 Vanderbilt followed by 19 points and 12 rebounds at Oklahoma, both wins.
- Part of a Florida team that led the nation in rebounding margin, offensive rebounding average and rebounding average.
- With 17 points and 16 rebounds vs. #21 Tennessee, Chinyelu became the fifth Gator this century to post a 15/15 game against a top-25 opponent, joining Colin Castleton, Alex Tyus, Joakim Noah and Udonis Haslem.
- Improved his free throw percentage by more than 11%, shooting .695 from the line with 2.3 free throws made per game.
- Nabbed a career-best four steals in the win vs. George Washington.
- Joined Gator great Patric Young as the only players in SEC history to win both SEC Defensive Player of the Year and SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
2024-25, Sophomore Season
- Totaled 238 points and 262 rebounds while starting all 40 games for the national champion Gators.
- One of five players in Florida history to start 40 games in a season, along with Will Richard, Taurean Green, Lee Humphrey and Joakim Noah.
- Snagged nine rebounds in the Final Four win vs. #4 Auburn, helping the Gators rally from nine down by helping limit Johni Broome to three second-half points.
- Tallied 10 points and eight rebounds in the Sweet 16 win vs. #11 Maryland.
- Notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal win vs. #5 Alabama.
- Snagged 11 rebounds to help Florida to a +15 rebounding advantage in the win at #8 Alabama.
- Had a massive 19-point, 13-rebound showing in the win at LSU.
- Grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in the win vs. #1 Tennessee, helping the Gators to a +19 rebounding advantage.
- Posted 10 points and six rebounds in a career-high 30 minutes in the win at #22 Mississippi State, helping the Gators overcome the loss of Alex Condon 30 seconds into the game.
- Had four straight double-figure scoring performances vs. Mississippi state, South Carolina, Oklahoma and LSU.
- Had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds vs. Missouri.
- Posted 10 points and eight rebounds in his SEC debut at #10 Kentucky.
- Tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds in the ESPN Events Invitational championship game vs. Wichita State.
- Scored 14 points in the win vs. Grambling, shooting 7-for-8 from the field.
2023-24, Freshman Season (Washington State)
- Totaled 165 points (4.7 per game), 174 rebounds (5.0) and 45 blocked shots (1.3) while shooting .617 from the field in 35 appearances with 12 starts.
- Tallied six double-figure scoring performances, four double-figure rebounding games and a key double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the Cougars’ win at fourth-ranked Arizona.
- Posted eight games with at least three blocked shots, including three in 17 minutes in a home win vs. #8 Arizona and in 13 minutes in another home win vs. Colorado.
- Grabbed a season-best six offensive rebounds (10 total) at Utah.
Prep
- Chinyelu attended the NCA Academy Africa in Senegal and participated in the 2022 NBA Academy games, where he led NBA Academy Africa to a first-place finish.
- Also played for Mozambique’s CFV in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) as part of an initiative to include one NBA Academy Africa player on each team.
- Chinyelu also brings international experience, helping Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2019 FIBA U16 African Championship while averaging 12.3 rebounds and 17.6 rebounds.
- Made his debut with the Nigerian Senior National Team in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers.
- Son of Patricia Chinyelu.
- Also played soccer growing up.
Off the Court
- Has a story behind choosing #9: I was contemplating on entering the transfer portal when I went to church on a Sunday. The service was going on, but I was restless because I was thinking about transferring on not. Then the preacher mentioned that our text is from the book of Joshua 1:1. As I opened my bible to Joshua 1:1, I notice that I had ticked verse 9, which says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” That’s when I knew it was go time. I chose number 9 representing the word of God from Joshua 1:9.
- Favorite food: Oho soup
- If he had a superpower, it’d be: Controlling time
- Favorite quote/saying: “Always smile. It’s a beautiful day.”
- Hidden talent: Drawing
- If he could have dinner with three people: my dad, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kobe Bryant
- Favorite NBA player: Michael Jordan
- Favorite place he’s visited: Rwanda
- Favorite holiday to celebrate, and why: Christmas, because my whole family is present.
- Favorite movie or TV show: Love and Basketball
NCAA Tournament: Postgame Press Conference | Iowa
Sunday, March 22
NCAA Tournament: Players Pregame Press Conference | Iowa
Saturday, March 21
NCAA Tournament: Todd Golden Pregame Press Conference | Iowa
Saturday, March 21
NCAA Tournament: Postgame Press Conference | Prairie View A&M
Saturday, March 21
