Rueben Chinyelu returns to Florida Gators: the starting center withdraws from 2025 NBA draft process

Photo credits: UAA

Fresh of an incredible national championship performance – which included the quality game in the post – the Florida Gator and head coach Todd Golden received some great news on Monday when the Center Rueben Chinyelu, according to CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, returned to its junior season. Chinyelu, which was declared for the NBA design of 2025 and went through significant sections of the process, withdrew with almost a month to the deadline.

The Gators are now waiting for a decision by the second striker Alex Condon, who, like Chinyelu, explained the design to at least test his stock at the next level. Condon explained in a similar way than he retained his college authorization. Therefore, he has the opportunity to return to Florida if he wishes.

Chinyelu started every game for the Gator last season and scored 6.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and almost one block per competition, while an average of 60% of the field and 58% lying from the charity strip. The teams were still considered the NBA view.

With Chinyelu in the team, he will return to the starting line-up next to Hagh, which has spent the 2024-25 campaign as the main security on the front square, but was increased. Should Condon also return, the Florida would start three bigs in addition to its newly recruited tandem from Star Transfer Guards.

This season Condon scored an average of 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 blocks, while he scored 49% from the field, 33% from 3-point range and 60% from the charity strip. His game in most campaigns in Florida had NBA reviewers save on his potential at the next level, as many believed he would continue to progress-that he could be a first choice by the end of the season.

However, a late ankle injury forced the condition to miss several games, and he was never the same player when he returned to the pitch. In fact, he was exceeded by Haegh von Hagh throughout the entire post -season, although Condon shone late in the national championship with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals together with 4 sales.

In the last three games of the NCAA tournament 2025, Condon made seven baskets and started 10 sales and 10 fouls. As a player who regularly published double double double, he achieved an average of 7.2 points in March madness and 5.7 Rebounds across the board under his regular seasonal number with increasing competition and pressure. Some still consider him a top 30 prospect, and the evaluators projected him as a selection of the second round.