Florida's Rueben Chinyelu among 73 invites to 2026 NBA combine

During his junior year with the Gators, Chinyelu averaged 10.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per game with 36 blocked shots, 27 steals and 23 assists, while starting all 35 games at center. His total rebounds per game led the SEC and ranked fourth nationally, while his individual splits (3.9 offensive, 7.3 defensive) also led the SEC.

Chinyelu's 137 offensive rebounds last season set a new record at Florida, shattering the previous record of 114 by Dwayne Davis (1988-89), while his 393 total rebounds marked the third-best single-season total in UF history, trailing Gators legend Neal Walk's numbers during the 1967-68 (495) and 1968-69 (481) campaigns.

His 19 double-doubles set a new program high previously held by Bob Smyth at 18 (1975-76), and he also became the first Gator since that same season to average double-figure rebounds or a double-double, when Smyth posted 13.3 points and 12.7 boards per game.

Along with the Defensive Player of the Year honors, bestowed upon him by both the Naismith Awards committee and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, Chinyelu was also named a First-Team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and Second-Team All-SEC by the coaches, as well as an AP All-America Honorable Mention.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida basketball's Rueben Chinyelu gets NBA combine invitation