NBA Africa Vice President and NBA Nigeria Country Head Gbemisola Abudu is proud to see Rueben Abuchi Chinyelu, who graduated from the NBA Africa Academy, win the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship.
On Monday night, Abuchi helped his team, the Florida Gators, to a 65-63 win over the University of Houston .
After committing to Washington State in 2023 and playing well in 35 games, the former Nigeria U16 national team player transferred to the University of Florida a year later in search of a more challenging environment.
''It is truly remarkable to see him move from the University of Washington to the Gators and seeing him ascend to that stage and literally just performing incredibly well, honestly, it’s been amazing to follow Rueben’s journey.''
Chinyelu made his senior national team debut at 18 at the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, grabbing 5 rebounds and scoring 3 points against Guinea.
In the 2022 and 2023 Basketball Africa League seasons (BAL), the 6ft 10 center also contributed significantly to Stade Malien and Ferroviário da Beira, helping the former place third.
Abudu says she is proud of Chinyelu's growth and would be happier when he dominates the bigger stage.
''From being a part of the NBA Academy he has played two seasons with the BAL and as part of the BAL Elevate program and just to see him dominate on that stage, I couldn’t be happier and proud of him.''
Abudu added: ''There is no way it isn’t impractical. Let’s take it back to the elite camp in Nigeria. The first thing we did was in July and two of the kids from the elite camps, the same academy that Rueben came from that he was selected for, not necessarily from the elite camp, but he was recruited from Nigeria to be part of the Academy and see where he is today.
Abudu says Chinyelu's achievement will motivate other kids to do well.
''It shows Nigerian youths that as long as you have the talent, just keep at it and the sky's the limit, you never know where it will take you.''
''We did the second elite camp at Unilag recently. "The idea is to make sure that kids are ready to exhibit good talent and a platform where they can showcase their skills and be part of the opportunity to be a part of these amazing programs that we have across the continent.
The NBA Nigeria boss believes Chinyelu's win is a testament to the scouting work done by NBA Africa.
"He is a representation of the work done by NBA Africa on the continent. The players that will be a part of our scouting network that will be discovered will get the opportunity to be a member of the NBA Academy, participate in the BWB, in the junior NBA Championships etc.''
''We have created more structured pipelines through the elite camp that we do, and we have an elite camp we have done and identify kids with great talent. It is a testament to the work that has been done. There is a lot of work to do well.''
Chinyelu is the third Nigerian to win the championship since Charles Okwando in 2011 and Daniel Ochefu.
