Olivier Rioux keeps going viral for Florida Basketball
![Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux (32) runs Karaokes as the Florida Gators men’s basketball team held a practice on John W. Frost II Practice Court in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3020,h_1698,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F213%2F01j9bzjx5gh6jmkmr702.jpg "Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux (32) runs Karaokes as the Florida Gators men’s basketball team held a practice on John W. Frost II Practice Court in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
We are less than a month from the season starting for Florida Basketball, and Todd Golden, and crew will enter the 2024/25 campaign with high hopes of not just making the NCAA Tournament but also making a much deeper run than the one-and-done they experienced this past season.
The irony for the Gators is that one of their newcomers, who will probably see minimal playing time this season, seems to be the one who is drawing the most attention for Florida because he is literally impossible to miss.
Florida Basketball: Size Matters
Slowly but surely, the college basketball world is getting introduced to freshman Olivier Rioux. Listed at 7'9" and 305 pounds, Rioux holds the Guinness World Record for being the tallest teenager. From IMG by way of Canada, Rioux was a three-star prospect and made appearances with the Canadian national team in multiple youth FIBA tournaments.
As the Gators have taken the court for their preseason camp, fans have been getting a look at Rioux for the first time in a Gator uniform. A video taken by Talia Baia was quickly circulated around the internet showcasing just how tall Rioux is even in the context of other teammates who are also seven feet tall.
The guy who jumps up to give the high five is 7’1
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 2, 2024
Olivier Rioux is TALL pic.twitter.com/qc9bnIPfe8
In a later video posted by Isaac Edelman, Rioux is seen practicing a set play that showcases some of his movement around the court.
Here’s a look at Florida Gators 7’9 freshman Olivier Rioux. I don’t expect him to play much at all this season. But if Todd Golden can develop him… he can be an unmatched force in the paint for the Gators. pic.twitter.com/zJrmfwkr6d
— Isaac Edelman (@IsaacEdelman) October 1, 2024
Movement will be the theme for Rioux this season, as getting up and down the court isn't the easiest thing to do when you are 7'9". It is important to keep in mind that for as much attention as Rioux is going to draw this season, he is viewed as a bench piece for the 2024/25 campaign.
But, guys who are 7'9" don't grow on trees and if Rioux can find a way to keep up with the pace of play, he could morph into a valuable depth piece for Golden this year.
feed