Rueben Chinyelu is making it loud and clear-if you’re trying to grab a rebound in the paint, you’d better come prepared for a battle.
Fresh off recording his 12th double-double of the season in a gritty matchup against South Carolina, Chinyelu has officially landed on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list. It’s a well-earned nod for a player who’s been a force of nature on the boards and a defensive anchor for Florida all season long.
Let’s talk numbers: the Enugu, Nigeria native is pulling down 11 rebounds per game, good for fifth in the nation. He’s also snatching 4.1 offensive boards per contest-seventh-best in the country. That’s not just cleaning the glass; that’s dominating it.
What really jumps off the page is the consistency. Chinyelu has posted 12 double-doubles this year, including a four-game streak that stands as the longest by a Gator since 2005.
That kind of sustained production doesn’t happen by accident-it’s the result of effort, instincts, and a relentless motor. His dozen double-doubles are already tied for the seventh-most in a single season by a Florida player, and we’re not done yet.
And it’s not just this year. Over the past two seasons, Chinyelu has started 61 games, helping lead Florida to a 51-10 record and a national championship.
That kind of résumé speaks volumes. But what’s even more impressive is how much he’s grown.
Last season, he averaged six points in 19 minutes. This year, he’s doubled that scoring output-up to 12 points per game-while shooting a blistering 64% from the field in 24 minutes.
Efficiency and impact? Check and check.
He’s also had two monster rebounding performances this season, grabbing 21 boards in wins over Merrimack and LSU. That’s not just a personal best-it’s a statement.
LSU head coach Matt McMahon said it best: “If he gets his hand on a rebound, you’re not taking it away.” That’s the kind of respect you earn when you consistently control the paint.
Chinyelu’s defensive presence isn’t just about stats. It’s about the way he alters the game.
His patience, footwork, and physicality make life miserable for opposing bigs. Twice this season, players have been hit with flagrant fouls trying to wrestle rebounds away from him.
That says a lot about how hard it is to move him off his spot.
“He just impacts the game so well defensively and on the glass that he’s become a real stalwart for us in the front court,” Florida head coach Todd Golden said. And he’s right-Chinyelu is the kind of player who changes the tone of a game without needing the ball in his hands.
Joining him on the Naismith watch list are other standout defenders like Cameron Boozer (Duke), Kylan Boswell (Illinois), Somto Cyril (Georgia), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), and Caleb Wilson (UNC). But make no mistake-Rueben Chinyelu has earned his place among the nation’s elite.
If he keeps playing at this level, don’t be surprised if his name stays on that list all the way through March.