Khaman Maluach

RUEBEN Chinyelu speaks proudly of being Nigerian and of flying his country’s flag on the NCAA stage. It’s a path several of his compatriots have walked, but Chinyelu is distinguished by winning an NCAA championship and earning individual accolades with his college team, the Florida Gators.

The 6ft10 (2,08m) forward follows a path first navigated by Nigeria-born NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, who went through the American college system and won two NBA titles with the Houston Rockets in the mid-90s. It’s a legacy Chinyelu celebrates, and he hopes to be on the same stage where Olajuwan’s name once illuminated.

Speaking to The Big Tip Off via the Zoom platform at his Florida base, he reflected on the court life lessons he learnt before tasting success with the Gators and acclimating to life far away from home.

“It feels good to leave home, enter a new environment, and represent your country abroad. I am proud of where I come from, and knowing that legends like Hakeem Olajuwon dominated, and I am doing my part… That is beautiful,” Chinyelu said. “I aim to represent my country and embrace being Nigerian. I’m grateful to be Nigerian.”

Stormy days in Washington

Before becoming a Gator in 2024, the NBA Africa Academy alumnus spent a season at Washington State, where he committed a year earlier. Off his time in the US capital, he says he learnt resilience, especially when things did not go according to script.

“It’s another side of the country. It’s really cold. Lucky for me, I have adaptive skills, which allowed me to settle in a different environment, and that was an anchor for me. It helped me get through that time,” said Chinyelu. “Washington played a huge part in my growth… Just learning to be resilient. Knowing things are not always going to be rosy. There will be storms and sunshine. And through it all, you have to stay the course.

“I think Washington prepared me for where I am right now. Every other part of my journey, even before Washington State, also contributed to where I am now. From Nigeria, where I started playing basketball, to the NBA Academy (Senegal) and playing in the BAL. Without those experiences, I would not be successful.”

Striking gold with the Gators

Chinyelu’s two years at Florida were a golden period of his college career, from a team and individual perspective. Looking back on Florida’s NCAA championship run, which was the university’s third basketball title, Chinyelu says that the success was due to the “family environment” built within the team. It’s a culture that permeated the team this year.

“When we won the championship, it was so wonderful. All the work put in… Seeing guys happy, wanting to play together and celebrating one another’s success was key for us. It kept us going. It kept us thriving, no matter the circumstances. Our team chemistry last year was unmatched,” said Chinyelu. “It was just a family environment. Everybody loves each other. We check on one another. It’s like one big family. Things like that make a difference… Because we have guys coming from different parts of the world, and giving them a family environment plays a huge part in the team being successful.”

While the Gators fell short of the exploits which saw them win the NCAA title last year,  Chinyelu intimated that the family dynamic within the team allowed him to have an outstanding season this year (2025-2026), leading to him scooping five individual awards: SEC All-Defensive Team, Second-team All-SEC, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, NABC Defensive Player of the Year and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

“This year was no different. Everyone enjoyed playing together. It’s just that it was a breakout for me. I worked hard and did all I could,” said Chinyelu. “When it comes to winning the individual stuff, it was my teammates and them playing well with me, and the way I play with them. For any player to be successful, it’s the collective. Basketball is a five-man game. I would not have done it without them, so I share those awards with the team. They are our awards.”

Eyes on a bigger prize

His season had already ended, and after the interview with The Big Tip Off, he announced that he was declaring for this year’s NBA draft (set for June 24), while keeping the option to return to college. While he returned to college after declaring last year, this time around, he seems confident of a future in the NBA.

“Once I make it to the league. I want to be able to play long in the league,” said Chinyelu. “Once I am done, I want to help shine a light on Africa. Even if it’s to help create infrastructure or give back to the community. There is a ton of talent in Africa, but a lack of opportunity and resources. So once  I am in a good position, I want to do everything I can.”

Chinyelu continued: “You have to start somewhere. You know how it is. If it is difficult here, in Africa, it’s 200 times more difficult. So that is why I want to do as much as I can for the African continent to help pave a way for another generation.”

Should he realise the dream of playing in the NBA, Chinyelu would join former NBA Academy Alumni and teammates Ulrich Chomche from Cameroon and South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach in being drafted to the elite league. On Maluach, a 10th pick in last year’s NBA Draft, Chinyelu recalled the work they put in together during the Academy days and how fate did not allow their colleges to face off in the NCAA final. Maluach’s Duke team fell short against the losing finalist, the Houston Cougars.

“Last year, when we made the final four, I was hoping I would play Khaman (in the final),” said Chinyelu. “He is my guy. We played together at the Academy for some years. So, I hoped he would make it to the final. It was going to be so much fun.

“I am so happy he got drafted. Super happy. Super proud of him because I remember the late-night and early morning work we put in to get better. That moment meant a lot. Not just for me, but the academy as well. I am proud of him.”

Chinyelu’s heart is in the right place, and whatever decision he makes to either return to Gainesville, Florida, for his final year of college or to pursue an NBA career, his story of resilience and adaptation is an example to follow.