Evaluating Rueben Chinyelu's NBA draft decision after combine results
One of the biggest questions heading into the NBA draft is whether Florida basketball's starting center Rueben Chinyelu will return to school.
The Gator Nation awaits with bated breath for Rueben Chinyelu's decision on whether to return to Gainesville for his senior season or depart to the pros via the NBA draft this summer. His choice not only has significant implications for the Gators , but the college basketball landscape as a whole. With the deadline to withdraw from the draft without losing collegiate eligibility on Wednesday, May 27, quickly approaching, ESPN's Jeff Borzello took a look at the most impactful decisions hoops fans are waiting on, including that of the Nigerian-born center.
In his evaluation, he has Chinyelu included among the "trending toward returning to college" category. "Chinyelu had a very strong combine, particularly in the 5-on-5 scrimmages, and measured in with a plus-10. 25-inch wingspan," Borzellos notes.
"Yet he's still projected as a second-round pick and has the opportunity to return to a team that will likely be preseason No. 1 chasing its second national championship in three years. " According to his colleague Jeremy Woo's latest mock draft , which he submitted after spending a week in Chicago at the NBA draft combine, Chinyelu is projected to be selected in the second round with the 48th pick by the Dallas Mavericks (via the Phoenix Suns).
That makes it extremely unlikely that he will keep his name in the draft hat, making his return to school a high probability — especially in light of what he said during the combine. “My decision, it just depends on where I’m going to be picked in the draft. I had this conversation when I was being interviewed by some of the teams," Chinyelu told Andy Katz last week.