Florida Gators Big Man Olivier Rioux Makes History
Florida Head Coach Todd Golden was in a no-win situation. It’s halftime, his Gators are cruising, and the entire O’Connell Center sounds less like a basketball arena and more like a mob demanding the release of a beloved local celebrity. Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman from Canada was the man of the hour.
Golden, to his credit, tried to hold out. “There’s people yelling at me at halftime about playing him,” he said. “I’m like, ‘Listen, it will happen. The time will come.'”
But the people’s will is a powerful force. With just over two minutes left in a blowout 104-64 victory over North Florida, Golden finally gave the crowd what they wanted. He motioned to the end of the bench, and the place went absolutely bonkers. Rioux, the world’s tallest teenager, shed his warmup shirt and checked in, officially becoming the tallest person to ever play a college basketball game.
The Historic Debut Of Olivier Rioux
The moment Rioux stepped onto the court was electric. Teammates were losing their minds, the crowd was on its feet, and even the opposing players couldn’t help but be in awe. North Florida’s Trey Cady, giving up more than a foot in the matchup, was caught smirking as he sized up the literal giant in front of him. You can’t script that kind of pure, unadulterated sports moment.
What did the man himself think of making history? “It’s another day, I guess,” Rioux said, with a coolness that defied his 19 years. Spoken like a true pro who’s been signing autographs since he was tall enough to reach the counter.
What’s Next For Rioux?
In his two minutes of fame, Rioux didn’t even touch the ball. The Ospreys treated him like a radioactive zone, keeping the ball as far away as possible. But it didn’t matter. His presence alone was a spectacle.
“So much fun,” teammate Micah Handlogten said. “To see him out there running up and down the court with a little smile on his face, it was really good to see.”
Golden made it clear that Rioux’s playing time will be situational, especially with a deep frontcourt. But he has embraced the grind, redshirting last season to develop his game against Florida’s top big guys in practice. He’s already a viral sensation for just existing on campus—ducking under doorways and cutting down nets flat-footed.
The fans have spoken. They want more Ollie. And while he didn’t score in his debut, the anticipation for his first college bucket is now at a fever pitch. For Rioux, being the tallest player in history is just another day. For the rest of us, it is a reason to tune in and see what the big man does next.
