The biggest question mark hovering over Florida basketball this offseason is whether reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu will return to Gainesville or take his talents to the NBA. As the Gators sit atop many way-too-early rankings, the answer could shape the trajectory of their 2025-26 campaign.

After Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon both withdrew from the NBA draft to return for another season, Florida has already secured two-thirds of its starting frontcourt. Most of the roster has committed to another run, too. But Chinyelu—who still has one year of collegiate eligibility—is taking his time, testing the draft waters and gauging his value with NBA scouts before making a career-defining decision.

The prognosticators predicting Florida's dominance have largely assumed Chinyelu will be back for his senior year. However, that's not a done deal. The allure of professional basketball could outweigh the benefits of another season in college, though his draft projections suggest a return might be the smarter move.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Woo, who released his 2026 NBA draft big board and mock draft this week, the 22-year-old Nigerian native is buried among the draft-eligible pool. Woo ranks Chinyelu at No. 43 on his big board—a reflection of how executives and scouts view the available talent—and projects him to be selected by the Denver Nuggets at No. 49 in his mock draft.

Both projections point to a mid-to-late second-round selection this summer, leaving plenty of room for improvement in next year's draft. Would Chinyelu sacrifice another shot at college basketball immortality to be taken lower than his talent level warrants? It seems unlikely.

Additionally, with the hefty payday Haugh reportedly landed for his return to Florida, staying in school might actually be the better short-term financial play. For now, Gators fans can only wait and hope their defensive anchor chooses one more season in orange and blue.