Gators’ 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux Makes Historic College Basketball Debut
Olivier Rioux, standing 7 feet 9 inches tall, made his much-anticipated debut for the Florida Gators against North Florida, becoming the tallest player in college basketball history.
On Thursday night at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, the 19-year-old Canadian earned cheers from a crowd of 10,065 as the Gators dominated with a 104-64 lead. Fans enthusiastically chanted his nickname, "Oli," recognizing him as a fan favorite despite this being his first game since joining the team in summer 2024.
Coach Todd Golden brought Rioux onto the court with 2:09 left and the Gators leading 102-61, coinciding with the unveiling of the 2025 championship banner.
“It felt great,” Rioux said. “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, his appearance set a new height record in college basketball, surpassing the previous tallest player, Kenny George (7-foot-7), who played at UNC Asheville from 2006 to 2008.
Rioux also exceeds the heights of the tallest NBA players ever:
- Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan at 7-foot-7
- Yao Ming, Shawn Bradley, and Tacko Fall at 7-foot-6
- Victor Wembanyama, standing 7-foot-5
He is 2 inches taller than the tallest NBA players and 3 to 4 inches taller than several notable former NBA centers.
Author’s summary: Olivier Rioux’s debut as the tallest player in college basketball history marked a memorable moment, showcasing his unique stature and strong fan support despite limited playtime.