GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida men’s basketball junior center Rueben Chinyelu has been named to the Naismith Men’s College Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Friday.
Chinyelu ranks second nationally in rebounding (11.5) and fifth in offensive rebounding (4.2). From Enugwu-Agidi, Nigeria, Chinyelu has started at center in all 68 games as a Gator over the past two seasons, helping UF to a 58-10 record as a starter. He provides a versatile defensive presence as a bulwark in the paint who has feet quick enough to contain guards on the perimeter.
Chinyelu has posted three 20-rebounds games this season alone, something no Gator has done in their entire career over the past 50 years. He has notched 16 double-doubles, tied for second-most in a season in Florida history, and his 323 rebounds this season already rate as a top-10 season all-time for the Gators.
Chinyelu and the Gators return to action on Saturday at 8:30 p.m., hosting No. 20 Arkansas in a sold-out SEC clash.
Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team
Athlete
Team
Flory Bidunga
Kansas
Cameron Boozer
Duke
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
Yaxel Lendeborg
Michigan
Tamin Lipsey
Iowa State
Aday Mara
Michigan
Tyler Tanner
Vanderbilt
Joseph Tugler
Houston
Ernest Udeh Jr.
Miami
