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Florida’s 7-Foot-9 Olivier Rioux Sets NCAA Height Record in Brief Debut

Coach Todd Golden is easing the redshirt freshman into lopsided games as he develops behind a veteran frontcourt.

Overview

  • He entered with 2:09 remaining in a 104–64 win over North Florida, officially becoming the tallest Division I men’s player to appear in a game and recording no statistics.
  • Florida lists Rioux at 7-foot-9; he previously held a Guinness World Record as the tallest teenager.
  • Chants of “We Want Ollie” filled the O’Connell Center and his check-in drew one of the night’s loudest ovations, with clips circulating widely on social media.
  • Golden said Rioux will play sparingly late in blowouts as he builds conditioning, noting two to three minutes is his current limit before fatigue.
  • Rioux redshirted during Florida’s 2024–25 national championship season and sits behind experienced bigs including Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, Thomas Haugh and Micah Handlogten.