Canadian teenager Olivier Rioux has officially made basketball history, becoming the tallest player ever to compete in NCAA college basketball. The 7-foot-9 centre from Terrebonne, Quebec achieved this remarkable milestone during his debut for the University of Florida Gators on Thursday night.
A Historic Moment on the Court
The moment came with just 2:09 remaining in Florida's game against Northern Florida, with the contest already well decided. When coach Todd Golden finally sent the massive freshman to the scorer's table, the crowd erupted in celebration of the historic moment they had been waiting to witness.
Florida fans had been chanting "We want Ollie" throughout the game, putting pressure on the coaching staff to put the record-breaking player into the game. Coach Golden later admitted he could be stubborn about such demands, but ultimately decided the timing was right to make history.
"It felt great," Rioux said after the game. "The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans. I think everybody supported, and I'm very grateful."
Breaking Records and Making History
By simply stepping onto the court, Rioux surpassed previous NCAA record holder Paul Sturgess, who stood just over 7-foot-7. The Quebec native now stands taller than basketball legends including Chinese superstar Yao Ming (7-foot-6) and both Manute Bol and Gheorge Muresan, who each measured 7-foot-7 during their professional careers.
This isn't the first time Rioux has entered the record books. In 2022, he earned a spot in the Guinness World Book of Records as the tallest living male teenager, setting the stage for his eventual college basketball debut.
The Road to College Basketball
Rioux spent his first year with the Gators as a redshirt freshman, preserving a year of NCAA eligibility while developing off the court. According to the Associated Press, he had been given the option of playing limited minutes last season but chose instead to take the redshirt year to focus on his development.
"It's just mental and you just keep going and you just grind, I guess," Rioux said about the long wait to finally see game action.
Coach Golden acknowledged that Rioux's playing time this season remains uncertain due to the team's strength in the front court positions. "He's put in a lot of great work, and to his credit, he's kept a great attitude without getting a lot of reward in terms of playing time and opportunity," Golden stated.
The coach added that he would have liked to see Rioux get a touch of the basketball during his two minutes of action, but simply getting the Canadian giant onto the court marked a significant achievement for both player and program.
As the defending NCAA champions, the Florida Gators now feature the tallest player in college basketball history, adding another remarkable chapter to the growing legend of Olivier Rioux.
