Florida's 7-foot-9 Center Makes History in College Basketball Debut

The Florida Gators had an unbelievable 2024-25 season, as they went 36-4, won the SEC Tournament and won their third national championship in program history. Under head coach Todd Golden, Florida's roster was stacked with incredible talent that resulted in a title-winning season.

This roster included the three-headed monster of guards in Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard, all of whom were taken in the 2025 NBA Draft. Clayton was a First Team All-American and was taken 18th overall by the Utah Jazz, while Martin and Richard were second-round picks of the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors, respectively.

One player who did not play during Florida's run to its first national title since 2007 but was on the roster all season was center Olivier Rioux. Rioux, who stands at 7-foot-9, sat out all last season as he took a developmental redshirt season in his first year with the Gators.

Rioux is a native of Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada, and attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for high school. He was a three-star recruit in the 2024 class and was rated the 36th-best center in the country by On3.

Rioux, who measured 6-foot-1 at eight years old and crossed the 7-foot mark before going into seventh grade, is the Guinness World Record holder for the tallest teenager.