Todd Golden gives “credit” to the football counterpart Billy Napier, as 7FT 9 Olivier Rioux joined the latter for training


Florida's basketball coach Todd Golden is in favor of his 7-foot-9 center, Olivier RiouxExploring other sports within the University Athletic Program. Rioux briefly joined the Gators football team to form -to use their elevated frame and extraordinary scope.

Rioux, who joined Florida before last season, is the highest university basketball player in the country and the highest lived teenager on Earth, according to Guinness World Records.

During a test with the football team, Rioux could not impress Billy Napier And his staff, so he will return to the hard wood for the Gators this coming season.

Todd Golden was aware of the brief stage and thought to his supporters on Thursday at a reinforcement event.

“I like the idea. I give them credit to try it,” Golden said, through AP News. “They were a little disappointed.”

Rioux wrote his first year, giving it an additional time to focus on conditioning and general development. He played Team Canada in the FIBA U19 World Cup earlier this month, playing more than nine minutes per game. Golden hopes to compete to play next season.

Todd Golden excited by the progress and future of Olivier Rioux on the court

When Todd Golden recruited Olivier Rioux, he understood that it would be a long -term project and would not get the immediate return it would have wanted. Golden was ready to invest in the three -star center and knew that he should be a patient with his development.

Following the first year's writing, Golden was happy with the advances that Rioux has shown.

“I think his body has transformed the way he moves, now he is much more athletic than when he arrived here,” Golden said in February, through Gainesville Sun. “Not to take away from him only his natural career and his way, but I'm very pleased with him, to be honest.

“It has been incredibly coach. He has done everything we have asked him to do from the point of view of practice and I still feel good about his opportunity and his potential to become a good player.”

Todd Golden led the Gators to his third national championship last season and seeks to build it for next season. After losing most of his headlines this season, Golden added Xaivian Lee of Princeton and Boogie Fland From Arkansas through the transfer portal.