College basketball fans will have to wait another year to see a Canadian teenager hold that title. Guinness World Record height for him college basketball debut.

University of Florida freshman Olivier Rioux is expected to redshirt this season and return as a freshman next year, University of Florida coach Todd Golden said Thursday. accordingly ESPN.

Rioux, who stands 7 feet and 9 inches tall and holds the world record for tallest male youth, has stood out among his teammates and opponents this season, even off the bench.

Golden said he wanted to make it clear that Rioux does not plan to play this season so fans can stop chanting his name and tune in.

“To be honest, it put him in a tough spot. He’s sitting there at the end of games and everyone is yelling at him and trying to get him out on the field. They didn’t realize that was our potential plan for him.” he said, according to ESPN.

According to ESPN, if Rioux does not play this season, he will return next year with four seasons of college eligibility.

Golden hinted that the plan to redshirt Rioux could change, but said that was unlikely.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be 100% the plan. We’ll continue to talk to him and see if he changes what he wants to do,” Golden said. “But as of right now, that’s the plan we’re going to make with it as we move forward.”

When he makes his debut for the Gators, Rioux is expected to set a new record as the tallest player to play in college basketball. accordingly Associated Press.

The first-class center grew up in Terrebonne, Quebec, as he puts it. player profilebut competed in high school at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

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He comes from a tall family, with his mother standing 6 feet 2 inches; A father who is 1.80 tall; and has a brother who is 6 feet tall, according to his Guinness World Record profile.

Rioux told The Associated Press that being stared at because of his height is frowned upon because it’s something he grew up with.

Rioux, who started playing basketball at the age of 5, was 1.80 meters tall by the time he was 8 years old, and 7.00 meters tall before entering the seventh grade.

“You get asked questions every day,” Rioux told the AP. “When you’re out there, you don’t have a single three seconds to yourself, which was okay with me because my brother and my dad were tall. And we would go out as a family. That’s the way it was, and you can’t change that because people are curious.”

Rioux, who goes by the name “Oli,” entered Florida as a preferred player on the basketball team. According to the AP, he can dunk a basketball without his feet leaving the ground.

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Golden told the AP ahead of Monday night’s game that he expects Rioux to quickly become a major draw for the Gators because of both his play and his size.

“It’s something we can see coming from a mile away,” Golden said. “About 95% of the conversations I have with random people about our team are about him. We’re qualifying for the first time since 2019 and they’re like, ‘Hey coach, we’re really excited to have Oli in there this year.’ And I get that, man, he’s so unique.” person.”

Despite the fans’ chants, the 6-foot-9 teenager is not expected to play college basketball this season originally appeared goodmorningamerica.com