Florida basketball's Olivier Rioux makes NCAA history as tallest player to play in a game

Florida Basketball's Olivier Rioux Sets NCAA Height Record

During the Florida Gators' recent game, redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux made NCAA history by becoming the tallest player to ever compete in a college basketball game, standing at 7-foot-9.

A Historic Moment Overshadowing the Banner Drop

The game, which ended in a commanding 104-64 victory over North Florida, was notable not just for unveiling the Gators’ national championship banner but for Rioux's groundbreaking appearance.

The Crowd's Call and Coach’s Decision

In the final minutes, the student section chanted for Rioux to enter. Responding to the fans, Florida head coach Todd Golden allowed him to play.

“Todd just looked at me,” Rioux recalled. “And I just (pretends to take shirt off) with my t-shirt.”
“It felt great. The support from everybody was amazing. Even on the bench and even with the fans. I’m very grateful.”

Record Confirmation and Reactions

Rioux took the court with 2 minutes and 9 seconds remaining, setting off cheers from the official crowd of 10,065 spectators.

“It’s another day, I guess,” Rioux said modestly regarding owning the record for the tallest player.
Coach Golden added, “Not something that I think that much about. I like the banner dropping before better. I'm happy for him that he got an opportunity to get out there tonight.”

Author’s summary: Olivier Rioux’s brief debut as the tallest NCAA player marked a memorable milestone for Florida basketball, capturing the crowd’s enthusiasm and his own modest pride.

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Gainesville Sun Gainesville Sun — 2025-11-07

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