Why Florida's 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux Isn't Playing for the Defending Champion Gators
Florida has the tallest player in college basketball, Olivier Rioux, who stands at an extraordinary 7-foot-9. Despite his height, Rioux is not playing in the season opener, which has caught fans' attention and raised questions about his absence on the court.
Development and Readiness
Olivier Rioux remains on the sidelines because he is not yet ready to match the speed, skill, and physicality demanded by top-level college basketball. The Gators redshirted him during his first year to allow time for physical development and strength building.
Although Rioux attended the national championship and participated in cutting down a piece of the net, he did not play in the game.
ESPN’s Season Outlook
"After redshirting as a true freshman last season, he's expected to get on the court in limited capacity this fall. He's unlikely to play much considering the defending national champions return their entire frontcourt, but he should at least get on the court in garbage time. (Todd) Golden already has considered using him to guard inbound passes, something Rioux did to perfection just before halftime against the United States in the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland earlier this month. Rioux forced an errant pass that led to a turnover and a 3-pointer just before halftime."
Unique Physical Presence
Rioux’s extraordinary height has attracted wide attention. ESPN noted,
"Rioux's unusual height landed him in the Guinness World Records a few years ago, and he has become a walking viral video at Florida."
Summary
Olivier Rioux’s development journey illustrates the challenges of adapting extraordinary physical gifts to the competitive demands of elite college basketball.