5 tallest men's college basketball players entering 2024-25 season ft. Olivier Rioux

Teams are beginning to gear up for the 2024–25 college basketball season as their rosters begin to take shape. Whether it's a new freshman recruit or a returning veteran player, size is an extremely important piece on any basketball team.

The tallest player in college basketball history will play in the upcoming season, providing fans with a spectacle they have never seen at this level. Here is a look at the five tallest men's college basketball players for the upcoming season.

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5 tallest men's college basketball players entering the 2024–25 season

Syracuse center Naheem McLeod [Image: IMAGN]

#5 Trent Burns, Missouri Tigers (7-foot-3)

Incoming freshman Trent Burns will join the Missouri Tigers for the 2024–25 season. The four-star recruit from Houston, TX, is the No. 18 ranked center by 247Sports in the class of 2024.

Burns can play as a rare stretch five with his ability to knock down shots from outside. He may not be the bulkiest seven-footer on the floor but he brings a long outside threat who has plenty of room and time to improve his game.

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#4 Daniel Jacobsen, Purdue Boilermakers (7-foot-3)

With the two-time player of the year Zach Edey on his way to the NBA, Purdue have another towering recruit set to join the program this season. Daniel Jacobsen is a four-star recruit and the No. 12 ranked center in the class of 2024 by 247Sports.

Jacobsen has the kind of length and mobility that can thrive in college with a steady jump shot. However, in order to prevent getting pushed around inside the paint, he still needs to focus on building up his strength.

Matt Painter and the Boilermakers are hoping they've found their successor to Zach Edey but Jacobsen still has a long way to go.

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#3 Gabe Dynes, Youngstown State Penguins (7-foot-3)

Gabe Dynes will be entering his sophomore season at Youngstown State during the 2024–25 college basketball season. The 7-3, 225-pound center from Independence, KY, had a productive freshman season, averaging 3.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game from 27 appearances and four starts.

Last season, he was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman and All-Defensive teams, and he led the league with 61 total shot rejections.

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#2 Naheem McLeod, Syracuse Orange (7-foot-4)

Syracuse big man Naheem McLeod will return to the team for his senior season in 2024–25. McLeod spent two seasons at Florida State before transferring to Syracuse last season. He missed the second half of last season due to injury, but he started in all 14 games he appeared in.

McLeod averaged 3.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and a career-high 1.9 blocks last season while shooting just under 60% from the field.

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#1 Olivier Rioux, Florida Gators (7-foot-9)

Florida commit Olivier Rioux is set to make history when he becomes the tallest college basketball player of all time. Rioux set a Guinness World Record as the tallest teenager when he measured 7-foot-5 at age 15. Now the three-star recruit is listed at 7-foot-9 on the Florida Gators basketball team website.

Rioux will undoubtedly be a formidable presence inside the paint, but he still has a lot of room to grow on both sides of the ball to be effective in college.

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Which big man are you most excited to see in college basketball this upcoming season? Let us know in the comment section.

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