Who is Florida’s 7-foot-9 freshman, Olivier Rioux? All we know about the tallest college basketball player in D1 history
The college basketball season has started, and Olivier Rioux, a new and exciting talent on the block, is already catching fans's attention. At 7-foot-9, Rioux is currently the tallest player in college basketball history.
Fans are abuzz with excitement, eagerly awaiting the debut of the Florida Gators' freshman. Coach Todd Golden did not bring Rioux for the season's opening two games but is expected to give the teenager his much-anticipated debut very soon.
Who is Florida's Olivier Rioux?
Olivier Rioux hails from the Terrebonne suburb in Quebec, Canada. He was born on Feb. 2, 2006, to parents Jean-François and Anne Gariepy.
Rioux was a three-star prospect and was ranked 30th best player in Florida by 247Sports. He received offers from the University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University, and Stetson University. In November 2023, he committed to the Gators, and earlier this August, he joined the roster.
"That one we can see coming from a mile away. About 95 percent of my conversations with random people about our team are about him," coach Golden said.
"It's the first time we've been ranked since 2019 and it's like, 'Hey, Coach, we're really excited to see Oli out there this year.' And I get it, man. He's a very unique individual," he added.
Olivier Rioux high school career
Rioux played high school basketball for IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He also played for Brookwood Elite in Canada and Real Madrid in Spain before coming to the United States.
The 305-pound big man has also represented Canada in FIBA youth tournaments. His most recent participation came at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, where he registered an average of 3.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Olivier Rioux holds Guinness Record for World's Tallest Teenager
Olivier Rioux is remarkably tall for a teenager — he stands at a towering 7-9, the tallest recorded height for a teenager in the world, per Guinness Records.
"We’re still not 100 percent sure why I’m so tall," Oliver told Guinness Records. "After investigation, doctors could only explain it with the genetics that my family has."
"You don’t have a single three seconds to yourself when you’re outside, which I was fine with because my brother and my dad are tall. And, as a family, we used to go out," he added.
All members of his family are tall but not as tall as him. His father, Jean-François is 6-8 while his mother Anne - a former volleyball player - stands at 6-1. Rioux's older brother Émile is one foot shorter than him at 6-9.