Florida's 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux finally makes his college basketball debut | Sporting News

Florida's 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux Makes College Basketball Debut

It was the moment Florida Gators fans had eagerly awaited. Olivier Rioux, standing an impressive 7-foot-9, took the court for his college basketball debut with about two minutes left on Thursday night.

This marked the first appearance of the tallest player in college hoops, albeit in a rather anticlimactic setting—a dominant 40-point win over North Florida.

Game Highlights

Rioux didn’t record any statistics during his brief playtime. However, his appearance symbolized a milestone and served as the "victory cigar" in a much-needed Gators’ win.

After opening the season with a challenging loss to No. 13 Arizona, the Gators returned home to face the in-state North Florida Ospreys, a much less formidable opponent.

Background on Olivier Rioux

Rioux spent last year on campus as a redshirt player during which he earned a national championship with the team. He was notably remembered for cutting down his share of the championship net.

“Gator fans went WILD for Olivier Rioux checking into the game 🐊 (via @SECNetwork).”

Despite limited playing time so far, Rioux's towering presence brings excitement and anticipation for his future contributions.

Author's summary: Olivier Rioux, the tallest player in college basketball history at 7-foot-9, finally made his debut, sparking fan excitement during Florida’s commanding victory despite no recorded stats.

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Sporting News Sporting News — 2025-11-07

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