Florida basketball plans to redshirt walk-on 7-9 center Olivier Rioux this season

Posted by Admin November 14, 2024 Basketball

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Fans who want to see 7-foot-9 freshman Florida basketball center Olivier Rioux on the court this season may be in for some disappointment.

Florida Gators coach Todd Golden said Thursday that the plan is to redshirt Rioux, the “world’s tallest teen”, who joined UF’s squad from IMG Academy in Bradenton this summer.

Under NCAA rules, Rioux would burn a year of eligibility if he steps on the court for one second during the 2024 season, unless he proves he sustained an injury that caused him to miss significant time.

Fans chanted for Rioux to enter the game as Florida emptied its bench with walk-ons in the closing minute of UF’s 86-62 win over Grambling State on Monday night at the O’Connell Center.

“I should have made that clear, because, and honestly, it’s put him in a tough situation,” Golden said. “He’s sitting over there at the end of the games, and everybody’s yelling at him and trying to get him out there, and they just hadn’t understood that that was our potential plan for him.

“So that’s where we’re at at this moment. I’m not saying that’s 100% gonna be the plan. We’ll continue to talk to him and see if he, you know, changes what he wants to do, but as of right now, that’s the plan that we’re gonna have with him as we move forward.”

Golden said Rioux supports the plan.

“He’s a great kid, and he’s a pleaser,” Golden said. “You know, he wants to do what others think is best for him. And he’s, he’s coachable, and so, like, again, if this is what our staff, his parents, you know, the people around him that care about him, think is best.”

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1