The Florida Gators received some tough news regarding their 7‑foot‑9 freshman center, Olivier Rioux. The towering redshirt freshman, who’s already made headlines cutting down nets without a ladder and earning viral fame, has been deemed not yet ready to contribute significantly on the court.
Head coach Todd Golden, reflecting on Rioux’s performance at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup for Canada, remarked that while the freshman has “made strides,” he still “isn’t ready to hold down a significant role in the SEC just yet”. This cautious assessment follows reports from CBS Sports analyst David Cobb, who noted in Lausanne that Rioux’s lack of lateral quickness relegated him to a minimal role, averaging only 1.6 points and two rebounds per game.
Despite glimpses of his potential—such as a solid 12-minute stint against Team USA in the U19 tournament—the consensus remains that Rioux is a long-term project. The coaching staff initially redshirted him to facilitate his physical and skill development without using a year of eligibility. Now, Golden cautions that integrating him into next season’s rotation will be “a challenge,” though not impossible with continued progress.
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