Tallest player in college basketball history makes debut with Florida Gators
As Florida’s lead ballooned to over 30 points against North Florida on Thursday night, the chants started to rain from the rafters, just as they have in the past.
“Oli, Oli, Oli!” had become a blowout signifier in Gainesville as fans call for 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux, who joined No. 3 Florida in the summer of 2024, to get his first playing time. During the Gators’ title run last season, he focused on adding weight and improving his conditioning. His now 305-pound frame had yet to grace a collegiate court.
But that was until Thursday night, when coach Todd Golden gave him a brief nod with two minutes remaining, as if responding to the requests from above. And the subsequent roar of the 10,065 in attendance could be heard in Rioux’s native Quebec.
Amid an otherwise uneventful reset win 104-64, Rioux became the tallest player in college basketball history, surpassing 7-foot-7 players Kenny George (UNC Asheville) and Mike Lanier (Hardin-Simmons/UCLA).
“It felt great,” the 19-year-old Canadian said. “The support from everybody was amazing. Even on the bench and even with the fans. Everybody supported me. I’m very grateful.”
His performance left something to be desired as he didn’t record a stat, despite Golden stating that Florida’s aim was to get him touches. Nearly the entire Gators’ bench saw action in an attempt to get meaningful reps before heftier nonconference games against No. 6 Duke and No. 4 UConn.
So while others like former South Florida high school stars Alex Lloyd (Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy) and Cooper Josefsberg (Miami Riviera Prep) were trying to earn minutes, the ball never found Rioux’s (giant) hands. Each time he would gallop down the court, a buzz grew, followed by a sigh as a turnover or errant shot lost Florida’s possession.
But his stat line didn’t put a damper on the evening, which included the unfurling of Florida’s national championship banner.
“So much fun,” Florida center Micah Handlogten, a contributor on last season’s championship squad, said of the moment. “When he was checking into the game, I kind of stopped him and I was like, ‘Play with confidence. You worked your butt off for two years now to get to this spot. Now’s your moment. It’s your time to shine.’ ”
Following a dust-removing 93-87 loss to No. 13 Arizona to open the season Monday, Florida led by 24 at the half against UNF. Its frontcourt — which returned every contributor from last season, including preseason All-SEC selections Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon — got its way with 36 points in the paint in the first half. For that matter, their return is exactly why Florida’s given Rioux so much time to develop.
Guinness World Records previously named Rioux the world’s tallest teenager, but his frame took time to fill out. His career at Florida has centered on building muscle, but some concerns about his health still loom, which played a role in Golden holding out until late Thursday night.
“I want to make sure that he’s in a position where he can finish the game and not get fatigued, and I think two, three minutes is probably the most that he can go right now without getting fatigued,” Golden said. “So that was kind of the decision and why we waited so long to put him in.”
Though his skepticism hasn’t halted interest, as Rioux has become a campus celebrity at UF. Other students regularly seek autographs and take photos with him. He can’t walk down Stadium Road without a barrage of attention.
Golden hears the pleas, too.
“I said it will happen, the time will come,” Golden said. “I can be stubborn. I don’t listen to direction very well at times. So when they’re yelling at me to do it, it’s kind of: ‘Alright, maybe I’ll wait a little longer.’ … [But] when I put him in the game, I’m not going to take him back out.”
He’ll likely get more playing time in the coming weeks, as Florida has five more mid-major opponents on its schedule before January. When he scores, the O’Connell Center may erupt.
Yet Rioux won’t be able to hear it up there, anyway.
“It’s another day, I guess.”
