Since coming to Florida most of Todd Golden’s recruiting efforts have been geared towards the 2024 class, largely punting on the 2023 class that he would be a bit late in the cycle to start recruiting.
That is, except for one major name.
Rueben Chinyelu is one of the most intriguing centers in the 2023 class and he just listed Florida as one of his final five schools. Right now the Gators have put nearly all of their recruiting efforts towards the big man and they have been rewarded with a positive outlook in this recruitment where they appear to be one of the favorites.
Chinyelu has been one of the biggest risers in the 2023 class over the last 6 months as he continues to get better with every day of work at the NBA Africa Academy where he currently attends school and trains. The Nigerian native only recently popped up on NCAA radars but as soon as coaches saw him they started salivating at his frame, motor, and coordination.
Standing at 6’11” and 245 he has prototypical size for a center, made even better by the fact that he has a reported 7’8” wingspan that makes it feel like he can reach from one side of the key to the other. His height and wingspan give him a standing reach of 9’4” so he barely has to jump to reach the rim and when he does put all his energy into a leap he can soar above the rim.
Stylistically, his game has drawn comparisons to Oscar Tshiebwe for his motor and his love for rebounding the basketball. Chinyelu’s love for the glass was most apparent at a FIBA U16 where he famously averaged nearly 20 rebounds a game and almost outrebounded the opposing team on his own on a couple of occasions. Offensively Chinyelu is still learning the game but he’s a huge target when running the floor in transition and he can manufacture a few buckets per game exclusively by offensive rebounding. His free throw stroke and midrange jumper have looked pretty big, so there will certainly be people expecting him to expand his range and become a bit stretchy in the coming seasons.
Recently, Chinyelu was called up to the Nigerian Senior Men’s National Team, no small feat for a player that is still in high school. This is a team that has NBA talent in Josh Okogie and Chimezie Metu and a program with a lot of quality talent so the addition of Chinyelu speaks to where his game is at already. He was able to get on the floor for 13 minutes against Guinea where he had 3 points, 5 rebounds, and a steal.
Florida’s pitch to Chinyelu will certainly include the fact that Colin Castleton is set to graduate opening up a lot of minutes at center, and his high production this season will certainly be a selling point to centers in the future.
Chinyelu’s final five schools is, quite frankly, one of the more eclectic lists we have ever seen for an elite player. Florida is joined by Tennessee, Washington State, Rutgers, and Santa Clara in a rare SEC, Pac 12, Big 10, and WCC recruiting battle. Throughout the recruiting process it has been apparent that Chinyelu isn’t a regular recruit who will be wowed just by name value or traditional blue blood status in college basketball, and he is looking for the best fit.
Chinyelu has officially visited each of the five schools he has named finalists. While at Florida, he was hosted by fellow Nigerian Jason Jitoboh.
He has not yet listed a date for his decision but he isn’t expected to drag out the process.