World’s tallest teenager, 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, plans to redshirt in Florida this season
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — THE the tallest teenager in the world You might have to wait a year to become the greatest college basketball player in the world.
Florida coach Todd Golden said Thursday that Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 freshman who owns a place in the Guinness Book of Recordsconsider wearing a red shirt. If the popular Canadian had played even one game, he would have burned one of his four seasons of college eligibility.
Instead, Rioux will spend the 2024-25 season practicing with his teammates and honing his skills — and will still be a freshman next fall.
“I should have made that clear (before),” Golden said. “Honestly, it put him in a tough spot. He’s sitting there at the end of games and everyone’s yelling at him and trying to get him out. They just didn’t realize it was our potential plan for him.
“So that’s where we are right now. I’m not saying this will 100% be the plan. We’ll continue to talk to him and see if he changes what he wants to do. But right now, that’s the plan we’re going to have with him as we move forward.
Florida students chanted “Oli” during the team’s two home games this season. Golden emptied the bench in the final minutes of a match 86-62 victory over Grambling State Monday night and even said a few words to Rioux during the chaotic scene.
“I was just explaining to him, ‘Hey, the reason I’m not signing you up now is what we’ve talked about a little bit,'” Golden said. “It’s not a choice that I made for him. It’s something that people (at) our program have talked about with him, his family and his parents, his AAU coach and just trying to find the right fit. best route for him is.
“I just went up to him and said, ‘Hey, I’m not trying to disrespect you. I’m just not trying to burn your year by putting you out for 30 seconds.
Rioux handled the decision well, Golden said.
“He’s a great kid and a crowd pleaser,” Golden said. “He wants to do what other people think is best for him. And he’s coachable. Again, if that’s what our staff, his parents, the people around him who care about him, think that that’s the best, I think he’s going to be comfortable Ultimately it’s his decision, but I think that’s where he’ll land.
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