7-Foot-9 Olivier Rioux Makes History As Tallest Person To Ever Play College Basketball In Florida Rout
Florida freshman center Olivier Rioux made history on Thursday by becoming the tallest person to ever play college basketball in the Gators’ 104-64 win against North Florida.
The 7-foot-9 center checked into the game with just over two minutes remaining. Rioux made history as the crowd chanted “We want Ollie” in the buildup.
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“It felt great,” Rioux said following Florida’s win. “The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans. I think everyone supported me. I’m very grateful.”
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Born in Canada, Rioux played basketball at IMG Academy before joining the Gators in 2024. He became redshirted after not making an appearance for the 2024-25 season. Rioux also represented Canada at the youth level, helping his country win two bronze medals at the U16 and U18 levels.
The center’s debut on Thursday surpassed Kenny George and Mike Lanier‘s record as the tallest players to play college basketball, both of whom at 7-foot-7.
Florida coach Todd Golden knew he was going to put Rioux into the game when the Gators held a 24 point advantage by halftime. With fans demanding his appearance, and the team extending its lead to 41 points with about two minutes left, Golden decided to call his name.
“Obviously, the game was in our control, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get him out there and get his first college experience,” Golden said. “I think he was pretty excited. It was pretty neat for him to finally see the floor.”
Florida’s next game will be against in-state rivals Florida State on Tuesday at the O’Connell Center.
Article by Jake Iovine
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