GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The world’s tallest teenager may have to wait a year before he becomes the world’s tallest college basketball player.

Florida coach Todd Golden said Thursday that Olivier Rioux, a 6-foot-4 freshman who owns a spot in the Guinness record book, plans to redshirt. If the popular Canadian had played even one game, he would have burned one of his four seasons of college ineligibility.

Instead, Rioux will spend the 2024-25 season practicing with teammates and honing his skills — and will still be a freshman next fall.

“I should have made that clear (earlier),” Golden said. “Honestly, it’s put him in a tough situation. He’s sitting there at the end of games and everyone’s yelling at him and trying to get him out. They just didn’t understand that this was our potential plan for him.”

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

Florida students sang “Oli” at both of the team’s home games so far this season. Golden, by the way, emptied the bench in the final minutes of an 86-62 win over Grambling State on Monday night and even said a few words to Rioux during the chaotic scene.

“I just explained to him, ‘Hey, the reason I’m not putting you in right now is what we’ve talked about a little bit,’” Golden said. “This was not a choice I made for him. This is something that people (from) our program have been talking to him and his family and his parents, his AAU coach, and just trying to figure out what the best route is for him.

“I just went up to him and said, ‘Hey, I’m not trying to be disrespectful to you. I’m just not trying to burn your year by holding you down for 30 seconds.'”

Rioux handled the decision well, Golden said.

“He’s a great kid, and he’s a joy,” Golden said. “He wants to do what others think is best for him. And he is coachable. Again, if this is what our staff, his parents and the people around him who care about him think is best, then I think he will feel comfortable. Eventually he will feel comfortable.” , it’s his decision, but I think he’ll land there.