Gators’ 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux Makes Historic College Basketball Debut
On Thursday night, Olivier Rioux, standing 7 feet 9 inches tall, made his eagerly awaited debut for the University of Florida basketball team, becoming the tallest player in college basketball history.
During the Gators' dominant 104-64 victory over North Florida, a lively crowd of 10,065 at the O’Connell Center chanted “Oli, Oli, Oli” to celebrate the world’s tallest teenager, who had not played since joining the team in the summer of 2024. Coach Todd Golden finally put Rioux on the court with UF ahead 102-61 and just over two minutes remaining, thrilling the fans gathered for the unveiling of the 2025 championship banner.
“It felt great,” the 19-year-old Canadian said. “The support from everybody was amazing. Even on the bench and even with the fans. I’m very grateful.”
Although Rioux did not score or record a rebound, his appearance made history, surpassing the previous tallest player, 7-foot-7 Kenny George, who played for UNC Asheville from 2006 to 2008.
Rioux is also taller than any player in NBA history:
- Two inches taller than Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan (7-foot-7)
- Three inches taller than Yao Ming, Shawn Bradley, and Tacko Fall (7-foot-6)
- Four inches taller than Spurs star Victor Wembanyama (7-foot-5)
This debut marks a significant milestone, highlighting Rioux’s extraordinary height and his entry into college basketball history.
Author’s summary: Olivier Rioux's debut at 7-foot-9 establishes him as the tallest college basketball player ever, thrilling fans despite limited court time.
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