Olivier Rioux, a 7ft 9in Canadian teenager, made history by becoming the tallest player to score a field goal in college basketball with a dunk during the Florida Gators' 102-61 victory over Saint Francis. The 19-year-old redshirt freshman, recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest teenager, entered late in the blowout and electrified the Gainesville crowd. His achievement highlights his unique physical presence in the sport.
In a dominant performance on Wednesday night, the No. 23 Florida Gators crushed Saint Francis 102-61 at home in Gainesville, Florida. With just over two minutes remaining and the outcome secure, fans chanted 'We want Ollie,' prompting coach Todd Golden to insert Olivier Rioux into the game. The 7ft 9in (2.36m) center from Canada responded with a hard foul on defense before cutting to the basket on offense. Teammate CJ Ingram delivered a bounce pass, and Rioux, barely leaving the ground, slammed home a dunk for his first collegiate field goal.
'Pretty special, man,' Golden said. 'The transition, his vertical. Woo. He was up there, man.' The bench erupted in celebration, with guard Xaivian Lee, who led Florida with 18 points, recalling, 'We were just going crazy.' Alex Condon, contributing 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three blocks, quipped, 'Good pass from CJ.'
Rioux, a redshirt freshman in his second season with the Gators, had previously debuted in a 104-64 win over North Florida in early November, where he drew defensive attention but did not touch the ball. Three games later, he scored his first points via a free throw against Merrimack on November 21 and grabbed his initial rebound. He redshirted last season to develop his game, despite Florida's strong frontcourt, and became a campus sensation for moments like cutting down championship nets without a ladder.
At 7ft 9in, Rioux surpasses all current NBA players in height, including Victor Wembanyama (7ft 4in) and Zach Edey (7ft 3in), and edges out historical giants Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan (both 7ft 7in). He was named the tallest teenager by Guinness in 2021 at 7ft 5in. Though his stamina limits him to brief appearances in blowouts, Rioux's dunk underscores his potential impact, even as he builds strength and skill after attending IMG Academy.
