Rueben Chinyelu Named to Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team
rueben chinyelu was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team on Friday, February 27, 2026, a recognition that arrived after he broke the program record for single-season offensive rebounds for Florida.
Rueben Chinyelu named to Naismith late-season defensive team
The late-season honor for Rueben Chinyelu was posted on Feb. 27, 2026, and highlights a season in which the center set a program milestone by breaking the single-season offensive-rebound record. That rebound mark is a concrete count of Chinyelu's impact on the offensive glass and formed part of the case for the Naismith defensive-team selection.
Thomas Haugh reached 1, 000 points in Austin
On Wednesday in Austin, Texas, forward Thomas Haugh became the program's 59th member of the 1, 000-point club with an alley-oop from Micah Handlogten with 15: 02 left in the first half against Texas. Haugh is averaging career-highs of 17. 3 points and 6. 2 rebounds this season, and his scoring burst included being second among the main rotation in 3-point shooting at 34. 7 and leading the team with 113 free throws made while tying for the team lead with 151 free throw attempts.
Chinyelu's record and Haugh's milestones in the same stretch
Center Rueben Chinyelu's offensive-rebound record was noted alongside Haugh's 1, 000-point milestone. Alex Condon reached the 1, 000-point mark on Feb. 17 after scoring his 15th point with 17: 27 left in the second half, and Chinyelu's single-season offensive-rebound mark was listed as another career accolade achieved during the same period.
Coach Todd Golden on Haugh's progress
Head coach Todd Golden reflected on Haugh's rise as Haugh approached the 1, 000-point mark, saying, "It’s awesome, especially in this day and age, to have him for three or four years is unique. " Golden noted the improvement from Haugh's earlier seasons when he averaged far fewer points and praised him as "a great player, a great guy and great example of what we want our program to be. " The coach made that comment with reference to Haugh approaching the milestone on Feb. 5.
For rueben chinyelu, the defensive-team selection and the offensive-rebound record now sit together as the season moves forward; Haugh's scoring milestone and Condon's earlier 1, 000-point finish bookend a run of individual achievements for the roster. Haugh's efforts have also paved the way for the Gators to potentially make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
