Gators’ 7-foot-9 Rioux Makes Historic College Basketball Debut
Florida’s Olivier Rioux, standing 7-foot-9, made his highly anticipated debut against North Florida, setting a new record as the tallest player in college basketball history.
Game Highlights and Crowd Reaction
With the Gators comfortably leading 104-64, a lively crowd of 10,065 chanted “Oli, Oli, Oli” in support of Rioux, the world’s tallest teenager and a fan favorite since his arrival in summer 2024. Coach Todd Golden finally called him into the game with UF ahead 102-61 and just over two minutes remaining at the O’Connell Center, where the 2025 championship banner was unveiled.
“It felt great. The support from everybody was amazing. Even on the bench and even with the fans. I’m very grateful,” said the 19-year-old Canadian.
Record-Breaking Presence
Although Rioux did not score or record any rebounds in his debut, he made history by surpassing Kenny George (7-foot-7), who played at UNC Asheville from 2006 to 2008, as the tallest player to ever appear in a college game.
Rioux also exceeds the height of the tallest NBA players:
- Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, both 7-foot-7
- Former NBA centers Yao Ming, Shawn Bradley, and Tacko Fall, each 7-foot-6
- San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, 7-foot-5
Rioux’s height advantage stands at 2 inches taller than Bol and Muresan, 3 inches taller than Yao Ming and others, and 4 inches taller than Wembanyama.
Summary
Olivier Rioux’s debut was marked by enthusiastic fan support and a record-setting appearance, highlighting his potential as a unique presence in college basketball.