GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The world’s tallest teenager might need to attend a yr to turn out to be the world’s tallest faculty basketball participant.
Florida coach Todd Golden mentioned Thursday that Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 freshman who owns a spot in the Guinness record book, is planning to redshirt. Had the favored Canadian performed in even one sport, he would have burned one in every of his 4 seasons of school eligibility.
As an alternative, Rioux will spend the 2024-25 season training with teammates and honing his expertise — and nonetheless be a freshman subsequent fall.
“I ought to have made that clear (earlier than),” Golden mentioned. “Truthfully, 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 making an attempt 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 needs 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 group’s house video games this season. Golden emptied the bench within the remaining minutes of an 86-62 victory over Grambling State on Monday night and even mentioned a couple of phrases to Rioux through the chaotic scene.
“I used to be simply explaining to him, ’Hey, the rationale why I’m not placing you in proper now could be what we’ve talked about a little bit bit,’” Golden mentioned. “This wasn’t a alternative that I made for him. That is one thing that folks (from) our program have talked with him and his household and his dad and mom, his AAU coach and simply sort of making an attempt to determine what one of the best route for him is.
“I simply went as much as him and I used to be like, ‘Hey, I’m not making an attempt to be disrespectful with you. I’m simply not making an attempt to burn your yr placing you in for 30 seconds.’”
Rioux dealt with the choice properly, Golden mentioned.
“He’s an incredible child, and he’s a pleaser,” Golden mentioned. “He needs to do what others suppose is finest for him. And he’s coachable. Once more, if that is what our workers, his dad and mom, the individuals round him that care about him, suppose is finest, I believe he’s going to be comfy. Finally, it’s his determination. However I believe that’s the place he’ll land.”
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AP faculty basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll
