Rueben Chinyelu

Rueben Abuchi Chinyelu (born 30 September 2003) is a Nigerian basketball player who plays for the Washington State Cougars, and for the Nigeria national team. He plays as center and is a graduate of the NBA Academy Africa.

Rueben Chinyelu
Chinyelu in 2023
No. 20 – Washington State Cougars
PositionCenter / power forward
ConferencePac-12
Personal information
Born (2003-09-30) 30 September 2003
Enugu Agidi, Anambra State, Nigeria
Listed height2.11 m (6 ft 11 in)
Listed weight111 kg (245 lb)
Career information
High schoolNBA Academy Africa
(Saly, Senegal)
CollegeWashington State (2023–present)
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2022→Ferroviário da Beira
2023→Stade Malien
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing the  Nigeria
FIBA U16 African Championship
Bronze medal – third placeCape Verde 20190

Early life and career

Born in Enugu Agidi, a village in Anambra State,[1] Chinyelu picked up basketball in 2018 in Lagos when he joined Raptors Basketball Academy. He later joined the NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal. Under the academy's agreement with the Basketball Africa League (BAL), he played in the 2022 season with Ferroviário da Beira, and in the 2023 season with Stade Malien. Chinyelu played an important role as back-up center for Stade Malien, averaging 7.9 rebounds off the bench to help the team take the third place.

At the 2022 NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, he won the championship and led the tournament in rebounding, leading to interest from American college scouts.[2]

College career

Chinyelu was considered one of the best international prospects in the Class of 2023, and received offers from Kansas, Tennessee and Florida, and at least six other schools.[2]

In November 2022, Chinyelu committed to play for Washington State and joined the Cougars in 2023.[1][3]

National team career

Chinyelu played at the FIBA U16 African Championship in 2019, averaging 12.3 points and a tournament-leading 17.6 rebounds per game, helping his team to a bronze medal in Cape Verde.[4]

On 27 August 2022, Chinyelu made his senior national team debut at age 18 in the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup, scoring 3 points and grabbing 5 rebounds against Guinea.[5]

BAL career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023 Ferroviário da Beira 309.7.500–.0003.3.0.3.33.3
2023 Stade Malien 8020.1.429.000.6368.8.61.41.15.4

References
  1. "Rueben Chinyelu - Men's Basketball". Washington State University Athletics. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  2. "Rueben Chinyelu commits to Washington State basketball". ABC News. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  3. "WSU Signs NBA Academy's Nigerian Rueben Chinyelu – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". independent.ng. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  4. "Rueben Abuchi CHINYELU at the FIBA U16 African Championship 2019". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  5. "FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
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