Florida Gators freshman Olivier Rioux, standing at 7-foot-9, made history as the tallest player to ever appear in a college basketball game during a 104-64 win over North Florida. The 19-year-old Canadian entered with 2:09 left in the second half amid fan chants and celebrations. Rioux, who redshirted his first season, did not touch the ball but drew massive crowd support.
In a dominant performance at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida, the Gators secured a 104-64 victory over the North Florida Ospreys on Thursday night. The game marked the unveiling of Florida's NCAA championship banner from their 65-63 title win over Houston on April 7. Coach Todd Golden emphasized the team's control, leading by 24 at halftime, which allowed for substitutions including Rioux's debut.
Rioux, a redshirt freshman from Montreal, entered the game to chants of “We Want Ollie” from the crowd. Fans had been urging Golden at halftime to play the world's tallest teenager, a Guinness World Record holder at 7-foot-5 in 2021. At 7-foot-9, Rioux surpasses former NBA players Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol by 2 inches and Yao Ming by 3 inches. He also edges out previous tallest college players Kenny George and Mike Lanier, both at 7-foot-7.
Despite the excitement, Rioux played the final 2:09 without recording statistics, as North Florida focused defense on him. “It felt great,” Rioux said. “The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans. I think everybody supported me. I’m very grateful.” On making history, he added, “It’s another day, I guess.”
Teammate Micah Handlogten, part of last season's championship squad, encouraged Rioux before entry: “Play with confidence. You’ve worked your butt off for two years now to get to this spot. Now’s your moment. This is your time to shine.” Handlogten noted Rioux's smile while running the court. Golden praised Rioux's attitude amid limited opportunities behind returners like Rueben Chinyelu and Handlogten. Rioux, a former IMG Academy star and Canadian national team bronze medalist, chose to redshirt to develop his game.
Earlier, Rioux tried out for Florida football to block kicks but was limited by an 11-inch vertical. His family is notably tall: father at 6-foot-8, mother at 6-foot-2, and brother at 6-foot-9.