Rueben Chinyelu returns to Florida Gators: Starting center withdraws from 2025 NBA Draft process

Basketball

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Image Credit: UAA

Fresh off an incredible national championship performance — that included quality play in the post — the Florida Gators and head coach Todd Golden received some terrific news Monday when center Rueben Chinyelu decided to return to the program for his junior season, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Chinyelu, who had declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and went through significant stretches of the process, withdrew with just under 10 days until the deadline.

The Gators are now waiting on a decision from sophomore forward Alex Condon, who like Chinyelu declared for the draft to at least test his stock at the next level. Condon similarly declared while retaining his collegiate eligibility, so he has an opportunity to return to Florida if he so chooses.

Chinyelu started every game for the Gators last season, posting 6.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and nearly a block per contest while averaging 60% from the field and 58% from the charity stripe. Still considered raw as an NBA prospect, teams were attracted to his defensive ability and developmental attributes but want to see him improve offensively before moving to the next level.

With Chinyelu back on the team, he will return to the starting lineup alongside Haugh, who spent the 2024-25 campaign as the primary backup in the frontcourt but has been elevated this offseason. Should Condon return as well, the Florida would start three bigs alongside its newly recruited tandem of star transfer guards.

Condon averaged 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 blocks this season while shooting 49% from the field, 33% from 3-point range and 60% from the charity stripe. His play through most of Florida’s campaign had NBA evaluators salivating about his potential at the next level with many believing — should he continue progressing — he could be a first-round pick by season’s end.

However, a late ankle injury forced Condon to miss multiple games, and he was never quite the same player upon returning to the court. In fact, he was outplayed head-to-head by Haugh through the entirety of the postseason, though Condon did shine late in the national championship with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals along with 4 turnovers.

Combined over the last three games of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Condon made seven baskets yet committed 10 turnovers and 10 fouls. A player who was regularly posting double-doubles, he averaged 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in March Madness — well below his regular-season numbers — as competition and pressure increased. Some still consider him a top-30 prospect, and evaluators have projected him as a second-round selection.