Rueben Chinyelu (9) is the first Gator to earn a national Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Chinyelu Named NABC National Defensive Player of the Year
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Florida men's basketball junior center Rueben Chinyelu has been named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Defensive Player of the Year, as voted on by NABC-member coaches across Division I.
Chinyelu averaged 11.2 rebounds this season for Florida, a number that currently ranks fourth in Division I. He also finished the year with 36 blocks, helping the Gators earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and rank among the top 10 in KenPom team defensive rating. Chinyelu is the first Florida player to earn NABC Defensive Player of the Year honors in program history.
The Enugwu-Agidi, Nigeria, native is also a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. He has also earned Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-Defensive Team recognition. Off the court, Chinyelu earned SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and SEC Community Service Team recognition.
In Chinyelu's two seasons at Florida, he has started every game and helped lead the Gators to a 63-12 (.840) record.
NABC National Award Winners
NABC Division I Coach of the Year: Jon Scheyer, Duke
NABC Division I Player of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Duke
NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Duke
NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
NABC Freshman of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Duke
Chinyelu averaged 11.2 rebounds this season for Florida, a number that currently ranks fourth in Division I. He also finished the year with 36 blocks, helping the Gators earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and rank among the top 10 in KenPom team defensive rating. Chinyelu is the first Florida player to earn NABC Defensive Player of the Year honors in program history.
The Enugwu-Agidi, Nigeria, native is also a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. He has also earned Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-Defensive Team recognition. Off the court, Chinyelu earned SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and SEC Community Service Team recognition.
In Chinyelu's two seasons at Florida, he has started every game and helped lead the Gators to a 63-12 (.840) record.
NABC National Award Winners
NABC Division I Coach of the Year: Jon Scheyer, Duke
NABC Division I Player of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Duke
NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Duke
NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
NABC Freshman of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Duke
Players Mentioned
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