Rueben Chinyelu enters the 2026-27 season with a target on his back after establishing himself as one of the best defenders in college basketball.
CBS Sports named the Florida center its preseason Defensive Player of the Year, placing Chinyelu on the first team of its preseason All-Defensive selections.
The honor comes after Chinyelu won the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award last season and anchored one of the most physical frontcourts in the country.
CBS Sports highlighted Chinyelu’s ability to defend all over the floor despite his 6-foot-10-inch, 265-pound frame. Florida was 10.5 points per 100 possessions better defensively with Chinyelu on the court last season, while opponents shot just 43.5% on 2-point attempts when he was in the game
— the best mark in college basketball.
Chinyelu also remains one of the best rebounders in the sport. He led the nation in rebounds and rebounding percentage last season while averaging 11.2 boards per game, giving Florida a player capable of ending possessions and immediately creating transition opportunities.
CBS Sports placed Iowa State guard Killyan Toure, Arizona wing Ivan Kharchenkov, Duke guard Dame Sarr and Houston forward JoJo Tugler alongside Chinyelu on the first team.
CBS Sports preseason All-Defensive first team
- G Killyan Toure, Iowa State
- G Ivan Kharchenkov, Arizona
- G Dame Sarr, Duke
- F JoJo Tugler, Houston
- C Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Rueben Chinyelu named CBS Sports preseason Defensive Player of Year
