The world’s tallest teenager may need to attend a yr to grow to be the world’s tallest faculty basketball participant.
Florida coach Todd Golden stated Thursday that Olivier Rioux, a 7ft 9in freshman who owns a spot within the Guinness document guide, is planning to redshirt. Had the favored Canadian performed in even one recreation, he would have burned one in every of his 4 seasons of faculty eligibility.
As a substitute, Rioux will spend the 2024-25 season practising with teammates and honing his expertise – and nonetheless be a freshman subsequent fall.
“I ought to have made that clear [before],” Golden stated. “Actually, it’s put him in a troublesome state of affairs. He’s sitting over there on the finish of video games and everyone’s yelling at him and attempting to get him on the market. They simply hadn’t understood that that was our potential plan for him.
“In order that’s the place we’re at at this second. I’m not saying that’s 100% going to be the plan. We’ll proceed to speak to him and see if he modifies what he desires to do. However as of proper now, that’s the plan that we’re going to have with him as we transfer ahead.”
Florida college students chanted for “Oli” in each of the workforce’s dwelling video games this season. Golden emptied the bench within the last minutes of an 86-62 victory over Grambling State on Monday evening and even stated a number of phrases to Rioux through the chaotic scene.
“I used to be simply explaining to him, ’Hey, the explanation why I’m not placing you in proper now could be what we’ve talked about somewhat bit,’” Golden stated. “This wasn’t a alternative that I made for him. That is one thing that individuals (from) our program have talked with him and his household and his dad and mom, his AAU coach and simply type of attempting to determine what the perfect route for him is.
“I simply went as much as him and I used to be like, ‘Hey, I’m not attempting to be disrespectful with you. I’m simply not attempting to burn your yr placing you in for 30 seconds.’”
Rioux dealt with the choice nicely, Golden stated.
“He’s a terrific child, and he’s a pleaser,” Golden stated. “He desires to do what others suppose is greatest for him. And he’s coachable. Once more, if that is what our workers, his dad and mom, the folks round him that care about him, suppose is greatest, I feel he’s going to be comfy. In the end, it’s his resolution. However I feel that’s the place he’ll land.”
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