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7-Foot-9 Florida Basketball Player's Next Big Move Revealed

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Spencer Ostrow | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 4:10 PM ET

The Florida Gators men's basketball team went 36-4 this past season and capped off Year 3 under coach Todd Golden with the program’s third national championship. They got strong contributions from three 2025 NBA draft picks — Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard — as well as several future pros, including Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh.

Meanwhile, they had a 7-foot-9 player, Olivier Rioux, sitting on the bench who didn’t see a single minute all season. He preserved an extra year of eligibility by redshirting.

In March, Golden spoke to the media and even admitted he may not see playing time next season.

"I think it's a challenge next year," Golden said. "But if he sticks with it down the road, I think he can become an impactful player."

Rioux has represented Canada in FIBA play for the past four summers, and according to Denver Parler of Floridagators.com, he will do so again. He recently earned a spot on Canada’s 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup team, which will compete in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The tournament begins Saturday with the opener between Argentina and New Zealand. Canada’s first game will tip off several hours later against China.

This will mark Rioux’s third World Cup appearance, and he’s aiming to capture gold after finishing seventh in the 2023 U19 and ninth in the 2022 U17 tournaments.

Rioux, 19, is from Quebec, Canada, and went to high school in Florida at IMG Academy. The lengthy center currently holds the Guinness World Record for being the tallest teenager.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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