236cm teenager becomes tallest-ever US college basketball player

236cm Teenager Becomes Tallest-Ever US College Basketball Player

Olivier Rioux sparked excitement as he made his debut for Florida, setting a new record as the tallest player to ever compete in US college basketball. Standing at 236 cm tall, the 19-year-old Canadian surpassed the heights of Gheorghe Mureșan and Manute Bol, the tallest players in NBA history, by five centimeters.

Historic Debut

Rioux received a standing ovation when he entered the game with two minutes remaining in Florida's decisive 104-64 win over North Florida. Fans at the O'Connell Center had been chanting "We Want Ollie," urging Florida coach Todd Golden to put the towering center on the court. Golden finally relented with 2:09 left, allowing Rioux to make history.

Massive Attention but Quiet Impact

Despite the overwhelming focus on him, Rioux did not touch the ball during his time on the court, as the North Florida Ospreys paid close attention to the world's tallest teenager.

"The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans. I think everybody supported me. I'm very grateful."

"It's another day, I guess."

— Rioux, when asked about making history

Reactions from Opponents

Rioux's presence even brought smiles to opponents, with North Florida forward Trey Cady humorously comparing his height to Rioux's, noting the large difference.

"Cady was giving up more than a foot in the match-up."

Author's summary: Olivier Rioux's debut as the tallest US college basketball player drew huge attention, earning cheers and making history despite limited court action.

ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) — 2025-11-07