Florida men’s basketball junior center Rueben Chinyelu has been named to the Naismith Men’s College Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Friday.
 
Chinyelu ranks second nationally in rebounding (11.5) and fifth in offensive rebounding (4.2). From Enugwu-Agidi, Nigeria, Chinyelu has started at center in all 68 games as a Gator over the past two seasons, helping UF to a 58-10 record as a starter. He provides a versatile defensive presence as a bulwark in the paint who has feet quick enough to contain guards on the perimeter.
 
Chinyelu has posted three 20-rebounds games this season alone, something no Gator has done in their entire career over the past 50 years. He has notched 16 double-doubles, tied for second-most in a season in Florida history, and his 323 rebounds this season already rate as a top-10 season all-time for the Gators.
 
Chinyelu and the Gators return to action on Saturday at 8:30 p.m., hosting No. 20 Arkansas in a sold-out SEC clash.
 
Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team

Flory Bidunga	Kansas
Cameron Boozer	Duke
Jaden Bradley	Arizona
Maliq Brown	Duke
Javontae Campbell	Bowling Green
Rueben Chinyelu	Florida
Somto Cyril	Georgia
Silas Demary Jr.	UConn
Zuby Ejiofor	St. John’s
Yaxel Lendeborg	Michigan
Tamin Lipsey	Iowa State
Aday Mara	Michigan
Tyler Tanner	Vanderbilt
Joseph Tugler	Houston
Ernest Udeh Jr.	Miami