Gators’ 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux Makes Historic College Basketball Debut
On Thursday night, Florida’s Olivier Rioux, standing at 7 feet 9 inches, made his much-anticipated debut against North Florida, becoming the tallest player in college basketball history. The 19-year-old Canadian finally appeared on the court after arriving at UF in the summer of 2024.
With the Gators comfortably leading 102-61 and the game almost over, a crowd of 10,065 erupted, chanting “Oli, Oli, Oli” to welcome their new star. Coach Todd Golden brought Rioux in during the final minutes at the O’Connell Center, which was also celebrating the unveiling of the 2025 championship banner.
“It felt great,” said Rioux. “The support from everybody was amazing. Even on the bench and even with the fans. I’m very grateful.”
Although Rioux did not record any points or rebounds in this debut, the reception he received was enthusiastic. His appearance set a new record, surpassing 7-foot-7 Kenny George, who played for UNC Asheville from 2006 to 2008.
- Rioux is 2 inches taller than the tallest NBA players in history, Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan (7-foot-7).
- He stands 3 inches taller than former NBA centers Yao Ming, Shawn Bradley, and Tacko Fall (7-foot-6).
- He is 4 inches taller than Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who is 7-foot-5.
This debut not only marks a personal milestone for Rioux but also reshapes expectations for height in basketball at the collegiate level.
Author’s summary: Olivier Rioux’s debut as the tallest player in college basketball history captivated fans and set new height records, even without scoring points in his first game.