7-foot-9 Florida Center Olivier Rioux Makes Historic College Hoops Debut
During Florida’s dominant victory over Northern Florida on Thursday night, fans eagerly waited to see redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux, the 7-foot-9 center making basketball history as the tallest player ever to appear in a college game.
“The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans.”
Coach Todd Golden recalled hearing fans urging him to put Rioux in the game during halftime. “I said, ‘Listen, it will happen, the time will come.’ I can be stubborn,” Golden admitted, noting he doesn’t always follow the crowd’s direction.
With just over two minutes left and chants of “We Want Ollie” echoing through the arena, Golden finally sent Rioux to the scorer’s table. The crowd erupted as Rioux entered the court, officially becoming the tallest player in NCAA basketball history.
Rioux spent two minutes on the court during the 104–64 win for the defending champions. Though he didn’t record any stats, his appearance alone marked a milestone moment for college basketball and delighted Florida fans.
“I think everybody supported, and I’m very grateful.”
Author’s Summary
Olivier Rioux, standing 7-foot-9, thrilled Florida fans by making history as the tallest college basketball player during the team’s 104–64 victory over Northern Florida.