Olivier Rioux, the world’s tallest teen, is more than just a basketball player

While speaking yesterday with one of the best high school basketball scouts in Florida at the Kingdom of the Sun Holiday Tournament in Ocala, I asked his opinion of Olivier Rioux. He said most coaches think of him as a preferred walk-on. That is, they prefer when he walks on the court that he would preferably soon walk off the court.
Don't shoot the messenger, but it seems he has a long way to go to be a viable college player. My opinion after only watching some vids is he moves well for a 7'7" kid. For most of his life he had no reason to jump so he's not winning any vertical challenge. Plus he probably is an injury risk if he jumps to high to often. Just my guess based off of many other overly tall past players. He should be a huge threat (pardon the pun) to stand under the basket and gather in offensive rebounds with easy put backs as seen on many of his videos but only in short spurts. His wing span is probably unheard of because he can cover most all of the lane from one spot. Its a given high paced up and down action on the court is not in his favor. Staying on the defensive end during a fast break might be best to defend the backside of a turn around break.

 

Has he signed? I have only seen that he committed to UF.

 

can he make a free throw?

 

Another one was Will Perdue, a 7 footer from Florida who the scouts thought was a stiff. He was pretty good for Vandy and the Bulls. I think he ended up with 3 or 4 world championship rings.

 

I think we'd all jump to Kasey Hill as a poster child, but for me, Jai Lucas was a bigger mismatch of promise-to-production. Just looked him up. Didn't realize he blew up as a coach and recruiter.

 

Yeah he was a HUGE recruit....I actually like what he did his Sr. year. That dude could fly, but it took all of his 4 years in college to develop a decent handle, shoot a little better, and become a much more well-rounded player.

 

Although, he was never a good shooter, Hill was one of the best defensive guards in the country.

 

Probably. It's always the new hotness, as some of your examples showed.

It's cool that Kasey wound up being a valuable player for us, though not for the reasons we thought. And yet, most would name him as "recruiting bust" before thinking of Lucas.

And damn, you're right, Erving Walker was just a flat-out great Gator. The story of him crying after a loss at the SEC Tournament his freshman year says it all. On a team full of apathy, dude had the fire everyone needed.

 

Sorry I didn't mean to confuse anyone about Rioux possibly as a PWO. That was a total joke by the scout. I'm sure he will be signed to a scholly here at UF.

I get that about scouts as well but I've known this one for over 25 years and he is much more often right than most I talk to. I've read other scouts articles that give my friend credit for being the best in the state and seeing more players than anyone in Florida. For instance, a few years back he once told me when the Gators were needing a big man and most everyone good was already taken, that they should go sign a 3 star kid named Colin Castleton before he decides. We lost him to UM instead. You know the rest. Another kid he told me we made a mistake with was the big man from IMG that everyone thought highly of because he played at IMG, Isaiah Stokes. He said he's nothing more than a football player trying to play basketball. Instead we should all keep an eye on that man child coming out of Oak Hill named Keyontae Johnson. Sitting next to him as he keeps stats and asking him what he sees is a pleasure. Many times I've watched coaches walk up to him between games and ask him for a name they should be looking at or a recommendation if they need a player for an open spot. I could go on about other names and stories of games I've sat with him but know its his life long passion and enjoys every chance he gets even though he works a regular job like most of us.

 

I think most of us see Olivier as a project, but one that's certainly worth taking on. He's getting good training at IMG--far more than he would get at any standard high school--and he actually can move for a guy his size. UF may want to bring in a coach or trainer that knows how to develop a true giant physically. A year of the correct weight training, stretching, body mass management, and footwork might translate into a player that can make a difference in the paint.

 

And I don't think UF even recruited him.

 

There's one sure thing good about Rioux, FSU can't out do us height wise for the next few years.

 

He became good. He was pretty bad as a freshman and sophomore, but that's okay. Guys of that size usually take time.

 

Tacko Fall.
He made them difficult to score on in the paint.