GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The world's tallest teenager might have to wait a year to become the world's tallest college basketball player.
Florida coach Todd Golden said Thursday that Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 freshman who owns a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, plans to redshirt. 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 it clear [before]”Golden said. “Honestly, it's put him in a difficult situation. He's sitting there at the end of games and everyone is yelling at him and trying to get him out. They just hadn't understood that that was our potential plan for him.
“So that's where we are right now. I'm not saying that's 100% of the plan. We'll continue to talk to him and see if he changes what he wants to do. But as of now, that's the plan we're going to do.” to have with him as we move forward.”
Florida students chanted “Oli” at the team's two home games so far this season. Otherwise, Golden emptied the bench in the final minutes of an 86-62 win over Grambling State on Monday night and even had a few words to say to Rioux during the chaotic scene.
“I was just explaining to him, 'Hey, the reason I'm not including you now is what we've talked about a little bit,'” Golden said. “This was not a choice I made for him. This is something that people [from] Our program has talked to him, his family, his parents, his AAU coach and we've tried to figure out what the best route is for him.
“I just walked up to him and said, 'Hey, I'm not trying to be disrespectful to you. I'm just not trying to burn down your year by putting 30 seconds on you.'”
Rioux handled the decision well, Golden said.
“He's a great kid and he's a people pleaser,” Golden said. “He wants to do what others think is best for him. And he's coachable. Again, if this is what our staff, his parents, and the people around him who care about him think is best, I think “He'll feel comfortable. In the end, it's his decision. But I think that's where he'll land.”
