Nigerian basketball sensation has withdrawn from the 2026 NBA Draft, opting instead to return to the University of Florida for his senior year, Bold Sports reports.
Chinyelu had initially declared for the draft while maintaining his college eligibility and had earlier hinted during the NBA Draft Combine that a return to school remained a possibility depending on how his draft stock developed.
The 22-year-old former NBA Africa prospect was widely projected as a second-round pick. ESPN had projected him as the 48th overall selection by the, while Yahoo Sports projected him to be selected 47th overall by the.
Chinyelu had until May 27 to make a final decision on whether to remain in the draft or withdraw, and he has now chosen to return to Florida with the aim of winning a second NCAA championship in three years.
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Despite the team’s failure to defend its NCAA title, Chinyelu enjoyed a standout season and earned widespread recognition for his defensive performances. He was named Defensive Player of the Year by the SEC, the Naismith Awards, and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
The 6-foot-10 center had hoped to secure a first-round selection, but despite impressive performances during the draft combine, it became increasingly clear that he was unlikely to break into the first round of what is considered a highly competitive draft class.
This marks the second consecutive year Chinyelu has withdrawn from the NBA Draft process to return to college basketball, having made a similar decision during the 2025 draft cycle.
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