By The world’s tallest teenager will likely wait another year before making his college basketball debut, as Florida coach Todd Golden revealed Thursday that 7-foot-9 freshman Olivier Rioux is expected to redshirt this season.
The Guinness World Record holder’s decision to preserve his eligibility comes amid growing enthusiasm from Florida fans, who have been chanting “Oli” during home games, eager to see the Canadian phenomenon take the court.
“I should have made that clear (before),” Golden said. “Honestly, it’s put him in a tough situation. He’s sitting over there at the end of games and everybody’s yelling at him and trying to get him out there. They just hadn’t understood that that was our potential plan for him.”
The redshirt year would allow Rioux to practice with the team and develop his skills while maintaining four full years of college eligibility. Golden emphasized that the decision emerged from discussions involving Rioux’s family, AAU coach, and the Florida program rather than being imposed by the coaching staff.
The situation came to light during Monday’s 86-62 victory over Grambling State, when fans clamored for Rioux as Golden cleared his bench in the final minutes. The coach addressed the moment with his freshman center during the game.
“I was just explaining to him, ‘Hey, the reason why I’m not putting you in right now is what we’ve talked about a little bit,'” Golden said. “This wasn’t a choice that I made for him. I’m just not trying to burn your year putting you in for 30 seconds.”
Golden praised Rioux’s receptiveness to the redshirt plan, describing him as “a great kid, and a pleaser” who values the guidance of those around him. “He wants to do what others think is best for him. And he’s coachable,” Golden said.
While the decision appears settled, Golden left room for potential changes. “I’m not saying that’s 100% going to be the plan. We’ll continue to talk to him and see if he changes what he wants to do. But as of right now, that’s the plan that we’re going to have with him as we move forward.”
The development strategy for Rioux reflects a common practice in college basketball, where programs often use redshirt years to help players adjust to the collegiate level while building strength and refining their skills.
