Rueben Chinyelu joins an elite group of Naismith Award winners.
Chinyelu Named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year
Sunday, April 5, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Florida men's basketball junior center Rueben Chinyelu was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year at the Naismith Awards Brunch on Sunday.
Chinyelu averaged 11.2 rebounds this season for Florida, the first Gator in 50 years to average double-figure rebounds, and he was the centerpiece of Florida's top-10 defense all season.
"It's not about me, honestly, it's about my teammates, it's about the belief they have me, it's about the chemistry we have, just knowing each other," Chinyelu said. "The more you know your teammates, then you know how to play with them, how to play off them, how to help off them. We did something defensively because basketball is game of five – it's not a one-on-one game – so all five come together in the process. So I think this is for them. I'm so happy and so excited because it's not just about me, it's about the work we put in, with Coach [Carlin] Hartman, Coach TG [Taurean Green], the whole coaching staff, the managers, everyone out there that helps get me right to be ready for the next moment, the next game."
The Enugwu-Agidi, Nigeria, native has also earned recognition this season as NABC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team. Chinyelu has also earned off the court honors as SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and a member of the SEC Community Service Team.
In Chinyelu's two seasons at Florida, he has started every game and helped lead the Gators to a 63-12 (.840) record, which includes the 2025 NCAA Tournament and SEC Tournament championships and the 2026 SEC regular season championship.
Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Honorees
Award established in 2018
Chinyelu averaged 11.2 rebounds this season for Florida, the first Gator in 50 years to average double-figure rebounds, and he was the centerpiece of Florida's top-10 defense all season.
"It's not about me, honestly, it's about my teammates, it's about the belief they have me, it's about the chemistry we have, just knowing each other," Chinyelu said. "The more you know your teammates, then you know how to play with them, how to play off them, how to help off them. We did something defensively because basketball is game of five – it's not a one-on-one game – so all five come together in the process. So I think this is for them. I'm so happy and so excited because it's not just about me, it's about the work we put in, with Coach [Carlin] Hartman, Coach TG [Taurean Green], the whole coaching staff, the managers, everyone out there that helps get me right to be ready for the next moment, the next game."
The Enugwu-Agidi, Nigeria, native has also earned recognition this season as NABC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team. Chinyelu has also earned off the court honors as SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and a member of the SEC Community Service Team.
In Chinyelu's two seasons at Florida, he has started every game and helped lead the Gators to a 63-12 (.840) record, which includes the 2025 NCAA Tournament and SEC Tournament championships and the 2026 SEC regular season championship.
Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Honorees
Award established in 2018
| 2026 | Rueben Chinyelu | Florida |
| 2025 | Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton |
| 2024 | Jamal Shead | Houston |
| 2023 | Jaylen Clark | UCLA |
| 2022 | Walker Kessler | Auburn |
| 2021 | Davion Mitchell | Baylor |
| 2020 | Marcus Garrett | Kansas |
| 2019 | Matisse Thybulle | Washington |
| 2018 | Jevon Carter | West Virginia |
Players Mentioned
C
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