Rueben Chinyelu will withdraw from NBA Draft, returning to Florida
Rueben Chinyelu’s time at the University of Florida isn’t over yet. After working out for two NBA teams and competing in the NBA G League Elite Camp, he is withdrawing his name from the 2025 NBA Draft and will return to UF for his junior season.
Chinyelu, who transferred from Washington State, started all 40 games for the Gators at center last season and finished second on the team in rebounds (6.6 per game) and blocks (34) along with 6.0 points per game. He recorded four double-doubles, including a career-high 19 points and 13 rebounds in Florida’s comeback victory at LSU, and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in the win vs. No. 1 Tennessee.
Chinyelu declared for the draft on April 18 but maintained his college eligibility and announced his intention to come back to Florida if he didn’t turn pro. He had pre-draft workouts with the Sacramento Kings on May 5 and the Portland Trail Blazers on May 6.
Chinyelu met with reporters following both sessions and was asked in Portland what he was looking to show teams during his pre-draft workouts.
“I’m just trying to show them that I’m a good defensive player, I can rebound the ball and also I can shoot the ball if I’m given the opportunity,” Chinyelu said. “I think you just keep working and getting better every day. But most importantly for me is doing what got me where I’m at right now, which is rebounding, playing defense, playing off the pick, being able to switch onto guards. Just being able to show them that I’m versatile and I can guard 1-5.”
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Chinyelu and UF senior guard Will Richard were two of 45 players invited to the 2025 NBA G League Elite Camp, which took place from May 9-11 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The three-day event gave prospects a chance to compete in front of NBA and NBA G League scouts, coaches and front-office executives through five-on-five games and strength and agility drills.
The top standouts from the G League Elite Camp earn invitations into the NBA Draft Combine, but Chinyelu nor Richard received the combine invite. Once that didn’t happen, Chinyelu was expected to come back to Florida.
After his workout in Portland, Chinyelu was asked what would go into his decision on remaining in the draft or returning to the Gators.
“After everything, just seeing how teams feel about me,” Chinyelu said. “If there’s a team that really wants me and wants to give me a contract, then I will definitely stay in the draft. But apart from that, if my feedback wasn’t up to what I’m expecting, probably I’ll just go back to school and go do what I have to do to get myself there. Because you work every day, every night grinding to just be playing in the big league.”
