GAINESVILLE — Florida redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux’s subsequent step must be a large one, as is acceptable for the world’s tallest teenager.
The Gators’ 7-foot-9 heart goals to evolve from a curiosity to a contributor. An extended street nonetheless lies forward.
If coach Todd Golden’s reigning SEC and nationwide champions lower down the nets once more in 2026, Rioux is bound to do his his half once more — sans ladder, flat-footed with scissors in hand and clipping a strand of nylon as he did this previous postseason.
Different contributions on the courtroom could be shocking, if not wishful pondering subsequent season.
“He’s arguably probably the most distinctive prospect in faculty,” Golden informed the Orlando Sentinel lately. “He’s 7-7 ½, with out footwear on. Each our program and him perceive that it’s an extended street for him, as a result of he’s totally different.
“His greatest basketball is perhaps down the street.”
The affable and decided 19-year-old Canadian’s journey continues as he trains along with his nation’s U-19 group earlier than becoming a member of the Gators for summer time exercises, that are slated to start Monday.
Rioux will proceed to deal with his conditioning, coordination and alter of course — traits that come seamlessly for teammates but require his fixed vigilance and dedication.
“His capacity to run, he made nice strides that manner. He has higher fingers and higher really feel than you’ll suppose,” Golden stated. “His lack of explosiveness is a matter. It’s onerous for him to get off the bottom, and altering instructions is difficult. These are the form of the principle issues that, if he can preserve bettering there, then he has an opportunity down the street.
“It’s not a assure, however it’s not a zero both.”
Bringing Rioux to Gainesville as a most well-liked walk-on was effectively definitely worth the funding.
Golden’s Gators gave the impression to be well-stocked on the entrance courtroom for at the least two seasons, which might enable Rioux to develop behind the scenes with out the clock ticking.
Rioux, after all, had nowhere to cover on a campus of 55,000 college students and in a sports-obsessed faculty city. Anyplace the younger man quickly generally known as “Oli” went, he stood out, however did so with confidence and kindness.
“It’s actually bizarre wanting as much as somebody,” UF heart Micah Handlogten joked final fall. “I’m 7-1, folks usually come out and ask me, ‘You’re so tall. Do you play basketball?’ Nobody says a phrase to me. Everybody simply appears to be like as much as him, it’s kinda loopy.
“It’s superb the best way he embraces it. He doesn’t shrink back from it.”
With a mom standing 6-foot-2, a father who’s 6-8 and a 6-9 older brother again dwelling in Quebec, Rioux grew up accustomed to top at a younger age. Solely, he simply stored rising, main him to take up basketball.
Ultimately he landed at IMG Academy — and from there to UF.
Many are certain to observe the place Rioux’s path finally ends up.
Along with his redshirt season out of the best way, he shall be eligible to play in 2025-26. UF followers are certain to name loudly and continuously for his look throughout mop-up obligation of a blowout.
Taking part in time gained’t in any other case come simply for a participant who can dunk with out leaving his toes and does issues at apply that go away coaches and teammates awestruck.
“When he will get in apply generally, he’ll simply seize the ball over Condominium (Alex Condon) and dunk it,” Golden marveled. “You’re like, ‘Wow. No one else can do this.’”
But, Rioux hardly ever is a match for the members of a entrance courtroom few groups will be capable to match following the 6-foot-11 Condon’s determination to withdraw from the NBA draft and are available again for a 3rd season.
UF additionally returns beginning heart Rueben Chinyelu, a 6-foot-10, 260-pound specimen who additionally withdrew from draft consideration, and the 7-foot-1, 255-pound Handlogten after he returned in mid-February, simply 11 months after he shattered his decrease left leg through the 2024 SEC Match.
“We nonetheless have an important entrance courtroom in entrance of him,” Golden stated. “It’s simply the character of the fact. Its gonna be onerous for him to beat out these guys.”
Rioux, who hit the 7-foot mark at age 12, has all the time been on a special timetable, encouraging his coach to maintain a watch towards a distant future.
“My hope is that he has an important 12 months of particular person improvement, and all year long, we’re capable of decide that he’s a man that may be be a part of that rotation the next 12 months,” Golden stated. “That needs to be his objective.”
Edgar Thompson will be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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