GAINESVILLE — Florida redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux’s subsequent step should be an enormous one, as is acceptable for the world’s tallest teenager.
The Gators’ 7-foot-9 middle goals to evolve from a curiosity to a contributor. A protracted highway nonetheless lies forward.
If coach Todd Golden’s reigning SEC and nationwide champions reduce down the nets once more in 2026, Rioux is certain 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 court docket could be shocking, if not wishful considering subsequent season.
“He’s arguably essentially the most distinctive prospect in faculty,” Golden instructed the Orlando Sentinel not too long ago. “He’s 7-7 ½, with out footwear on. Each our program and him perceive that it’s an extended highway for him, as a result of he’s completely different.
“His finest basketball may be down the highway.”
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 season exercises, that are slated to start Monday.
Rioux will proceed to give attention to his conditioning, coordination and alter of route — traits that come seamlessly for teammates but require his fixed vigilance and dedication.
“His capability to run, he made nice strides that manner. He has higher palms and higher really feel than you’ll assume,” Golden mentioned. “His lack of explosiveness is a matter. It’s exhausting 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 highway.
“It’s not a assure, nevertheless it’s not a zero both.”
Bringing Rioux to Gainesville as a most well-liked walk-on was nicely well worth the funding.
Golden’s Gators gave the impression to be well-stocked on the entrance court docket for no less than 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 middle Micah Handlogten joked final fall. “I’m 7-1, individuals usually come out and ask me, ‘You’re so tall. Do you play basketball?’ Nobody says a phrase to me. Everybody simply seems to be as much as him, it’s kinda loopy.
“It’s wonderful the best way he embraces it. He doesn’t draw back from it.”
With a mom standing 6-foot-2, a father who’s 6-8 and a 6-9 older brother again house 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 comply with the place Rioux’s path finally ends up.
Together with his redshirt season out of the best way, he will probably be eligible to play in 2025-26. UF followers are certain to name loudly and consistently for his look throughout mop-up responsibility of a blowout.
Enjoying time gained’t in any other case come simply for a participant who can dunk with out leaving his toes and does issues at observe that go away coaches and teammates awestruck.
“When he will get in observe typically, he’ll simply seize the ball over Rental (Alex Condon) and dunk it,” Golden marveled. “You’re like, ‘Wow. No one else can try this.’”
But, Rioux hardly ever is a match for the members of a entrance court docket few groups will have the ability to match following the 6-foot-11 Condon’s choice to withdraw from the NBA draft and are available again for a 3rd season.
UF additionally returns beginning middle 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 throughout the 2024 SEC Match.
“We nonetheless have an ideal entrance court docket in entrance of him,” Golden mentioned. “It’s simply the character of the truth. Its gonna be exhausting for him to beat out these guys.”
Rioux, who hit the 7-foot mark at age 12, has at all times been on a distinct timetable, encouraging his coach to maintain a watch towards a distant future.
“My hope is that he has an ideal yr of particular person improvement, and all year long, we’re in a position to decide that he’s a man that may be be a part of that rotation the next yr,” Golden mentioned. “That ought to be his aim.”
Edgar Thompson may be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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