Florida men’s basketball junior center Rueben Chinyelu has been named to the Naismith Men’s College Defensive Player of the Year watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Thursday.
Chinyelu ranks fifth nationally in rebounding (11.0) and seventh in offensive rebounding (4.1). From Enugwu-Agidi, Nigeria, Chinyelu has started at center in all 61 games as a Gator over the past two seasons, helping UF to a 51-10 record as a starter and providing a stout presence in the middle of the Florida defense.
Twice this season, Chinyelu has grabbed 21 rebounds in a game, the most by a Gator in the shot clock era. He has notched 12 double-doubles, including a four-game streak that marked the longest by a Gator since 2005. His dozen double-doubles are tied for seventh-most in a season by a Gator.
Chinyelu and the Gators return to action on Sunday at 1 p.m., hosting No. 23 Alabama in a sold-out showdown.
Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
Flory Bidunga
Kansas
Cameron Boozer
Duke
Kylan Boswell
Illinois
Jaden Bradley
Arizona
Maliq Brown
Duke
Javontae Campbell
Bowling Green
Rueben Chinyelu
Florida
Somto Cyril
Georgia
Silas Demary Jr.
UConn
Zuby Ejiofor
St. John’s
Kyle Evans
UC Irvine
Zvonimir Ivisic
Illinois
Joshua Jefferson
Iowa State
Jaquan Johnson
Bradley
Keba Keita
BYU
William Kyle III
Syracuse
Yaxel Lendeborg
Michigan
Tamin Lipsey
Iowa State
Aday Mara
Michigan
Duke Miles
Vanderbilt
Tarris Reed Jr.
UConn
Tyler Tanner
Vanderbilt
Joseph Tugler
Houston
Ernest Udeh Jr.
Miami
Caleb Wilson
North Carolina
2025-26 Florida Men’s Basketball Tickets
Single-game tickets remain available for games vs. South Carolina (Feb. 17) and Mississippi State (March 3). Tickets can be purchased at FloridaGators.com, by calling the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, or in person at Gate 2 on the west side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
