Florida Basketball selects world's tallest teenager for first season

The Internet was buzzing about the Florida basketball program on Wednesday.

The Gators welcome freshman Olivier Rioux, a center from IMG Academy through Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada.

The internet buzz simply revolves around the fact that Florida has Rioux listed at a whopping 7-foot-9 and 290 pounds. This is not a typo either. Rioux is 7 feet 9 inches tall.

In 2021, Guinness World Records listed Rioux as the world's tallest teenager, measuring 7 feet 5.33 when he was just 16 years old. By the time Rioux committed to Florida, he had grown to 7 feet 7.5 inches.

Born on February 2, 2006, Rioux is still a teenager and will be 18 for most of his first season with the Gators. Although the Guinness World Record still has Rioux's mark at 7 feet 5.33 when he was 16, it seems extremely likely that Rioux is always the world's tallest teenager stood 7-foot-9 as an 18-year-old freshman with the Gators.

There has been some good size in college basketball recently with players such as 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and 7-foot-2 Donovan Clingan. Even former Tennessee center Uros Plavsic reached 7-foot-1 during his time at Rocky Top.

But Rioux's build, measuring almost eight feet, is an unheard of size for this sport.

Olivier Rioux, 18 years old, committed to Florida, is now listed at 7'9″

He was 7'5'' when we filmed him 2 years ago.

7’6” last year (this video).

7’7” earlier this year.

pic.twitter.com/Y4jsbq35wb

– Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 19, 2024

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Rioux's Guinness World Record biography (possibly outdated given that it was done when Rioux was 16) states that his father is 6 feet 8 inches tall and his brother is 6 feet 9 inches tall while his mother is 6 feet 9 inches tall. feet 2 inches.

A Bleacher Report chart released Wednesday (we told you, the internet was abuzz) indicates Rioux “was 6'1” at age eight.

According to the Gators team website, Rioux averaged 3.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game over five games while competing in the 2023 FIBA ​​U19 World Cup for the Canadian team . Although the Canadians never faced the American team in the summer tournament, the Americans nevertheless had former Tennessee forward Tobe Awaka on their own roster before his final season in Knoxville. Awaka walked through the gate after Tennessee's Elite Eight run this year.

While it may not be a 7-foot-9 center like Florida, Tennessee brought in some good size via the transfer portal this season with the departures of Awaka and Jonas Aidoo.

The Vols signed 6-foot-11 center Felix Okpara from Ohio State, 6-foot-10 wing Igor Milicic Jr. from Charlotte and 6-foot-8 guard Darlinstone Dubar from Hofstra this offseason. Tennessee will return some size next season with 6-foot-11 rising sophomore JP Estrella and 6-foot-9 rising sophomore Cade Phillips.

If Rioux were to hit at any point in his career, he would instantly become the greatest player in NBA history. Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol are the two tallest players in NBA history at 7 feet 7 inches, while Tacko Fall, Yao Ming and Shawn Bradley are the only 7 feet 6 inches players in NBA history. NBA.

Tennessee will see Rioux twice during the 2024-25 regular season, once in Knoxville and once in Gainesville. It is not yet clear what type of role Rioux will play in his first season with the Gators.