Updated Jan. 16, 2026, 3:01 p.m. ET
No one ever doubted Florida basketball center Rueben Chinyelu’s ability to crash the boards since he first arrived on UF’s campus before the start of the 2024-25 season.
But some offensive development during the offseason and regular season has resulted in the 6-foot-10, 260-pound Chinyelu becoming a double-double machine for the Florida Gators.
After posting four double doubles as a sophomore in 2024-25, Chinyelu already has notched nine double-doubles through the first 17 games of the 2025-26 season. Chinyelu has posted two straight double-doubles in SEC play, including matching a career-high of 19 points to go with 17 rebounds in UF’s 96-79 win at Oklahoma on Jan. 13.
The inside play of Chinyelu and the rest the No. 20 Florida Gators (12-5, 3-1 SEC) will play a key role in their matchup on Jan. 17 at No. 8 Vanderbilt (16-1, 3-1 SEC).
More work in the gym has resulted in Chinyelu’s field goal percentage improving from 59.9% as a sophomore to 62.9% as a junior. Chinyelu also has made strides at the foul line as his free-throw shooting (from 58.2% as a sophomore to 67.3% as a junior) is better than a season ago as well.
“His skill has just continually grown, you know, since he’s been here, and the confidence has been great,” Florida basketball coach Todd Golden said. “I think he’s much more able to keep himself on balance this year, you know, get the ball up on the rim and, you know, his left shoulder jump hook is, it’s lethal, you know, he just jumps over the defender and drops it in there.”
On the glass, Chinyelu remains a force. He leads the SEC in rebounding with 10.7 rebounds per game, which included grabbing 16 rebounds and 12 defensive boards on Jan. 10 in UF’s 91-67 win over Tennessee.
“His physicality, that speaks for itself honestly,” Florida point guard Boogie Fland said.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
