Olivier Rioux, finest often known as the Montrealer big on the IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) basketball workforce, is greater than a basketball participant — he takes pleasure within the arts, raving about summary aquarelle. He’s occupied with biology and astronomy, saying he completely believes aliens are actual, for “if we’re the only beings alive, it’s scarier.”
It’s becoming as a result of Rioux is among the many new wave of basketball gamers who’ve by no means been seen earlier than.
Standing at 7-foot-9 inches and 290 kilos—an up to date spurt since final yr, when he was nearer to 7-foot-7—the College of Florida basketball commit stands taller than Chet Holmgren, taller than Bol Bol, taller than Victor Wembanyama — all who’re altering how the basketball world sees gamers who’re that tall.
(USA TODAY Community)
“(Wembanyama) is growing basketball for us, for the tall guys,” Rioux mentioned. “I’ve seen him train and know some of his training and know some of the work he does. I like it. He owns it.”
Listed at 7-foot-4, Wembanyama undergoes coaching that has helped to alleviate bodily stress that usually plagues gamers of this stature. His mobility is excellent, and he appears to be like fluid on the court docket the way in which few gamers of his measurement do.
“He can do the splits. I don’t know if you understand how big that is, for a big man, but doing the splits for us is very hard,” Rioux mentioned.
The highschool senior ices his physique, does blood movement drills that basically require him to put together with his again on the bottom and legs up in opposition to the wall, and does some yoga.
Rioux spent two days final yr with former Chicago Bulls middle and longtime workforce radio shade commentator Invoice Wennington. The 7-footer who spent 15 years taking part in skilled basketball, 13 within the NBA, gave Rioux recommendation concerning the sport and well being whereas the 2 performed ping pong, confronted off in chess, and examined the French information of Wennington, one other Canadian.
Following within the footsteps of men like Wennington has lengthy been Rioux’s ambition. He began taking part in basketball severely on the age of 8, by which level he was already standing 6-foot-1. By the sixth grade, he was 6-foot-11, after which, over the summer time earlier than seventh grade, he crossed the 7-foot mark. For that, he has made his basketball profession working within the put up beneath the steerage of Pascal Jobin, who has coached at Cégep Édouard Montpetit and McGill College.
(USA TODAY Community)
Rioux’s offensive sport options a variety of dribble-handoffs and setting screens. He mentioned he is aware of the best way to go the ball properly and has good timing when deciding when to shoot, however he’s nonetheless gaining consolation taking pictures from additional out. He is aware of that being tall isn’t sufficient within the NBA; profitable careers for gamers of this stature have been centered round top, energy, mobility, and flexibility.
Whereas Dirk Nowitzki ushered within the period of huge males who might shoot, he additionally was a precursor of normal managers scouting for bigs who might create offense away from the paint. Giannis Antetokounmpo, at 6-foot-11, led the Milwaukee Bucks to a championship as a result of he is usually a main ballhandler and create for himself and his teammates. Nikola Jokic has melded the roles of middle and level guard higher than every other participant in historical past and rode that talent to a title.
Bol remains to be within the league largely as a result of his guard-like skills are so tantalizing for an athlete who stands 7-foot-3. The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder traded as much as draft 7-foot Aleksej Pokusevki as a result of he was somebody who moved fluidly, dribbled and handed properly, and will shoot. Wembanyama can dominate on the rim, however he’s additionally cell, can create off the dribble, and is comfy operating performs on the prime of the arc past setting a display screen.
Even relating to blocking pictures, which Rioux is predictably adept at, he vouches for the significance of being cell.
“It’s more mobility and length that helps you,” he mentioned. “It’s both.”
Within the U-16 FIBA video games, he averaged 8.3 factors and 10.3 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per sport. This summer time, on the age of 17, he performed for the Canadian U-19 workforce. He noticed restricted taking part in time—three minutes of motion in three of the 5 video games he performed—however recorded a complete of seven rebounds in these three matchups. Within the remaining sport, 12 minutes in opposition to Japan, he recorded 10 factors and 5 rebounds.
At IMG, he’s engaged on his sport whereas splitting time between the IMG Varsity Blue roster and this system’s nationwide workforce. Rioux was with the nationwide workforce throughout the Metropolis of Palms Basic over the weekend earlier than Christmas, getting three minutes of motion in opposition to Richmond Heights. He’ll continue to grow — possibly actually, as his said top of 7-foot-7.5 within the interview with USA TODAY Excessive Faculty Sports was taller than the varied heights listed round totally different retailers — earlier than heading to Florida, the place he dedicated in early November.
(Notice: For the reason that unique publication, Rioux has grown, having now been listed on the aforementioned 7-foot-9.)
Rioux was interested in the atmosphere of the campus and other people on the college. He’s uncertain what he plans to check — with an curiosity in physics, biology, and artwork, who’s to say?
“It’s a good environment and people are very nice. I felt like I would fit in that program and the people are very mature,” Rioux mentioned. “I felt like I could get taught a lot of stuff.”
