Florida Basketball's Olivier Rioux Sets NCAA Height Record
Florida basketball's redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux made history during the Gators' recent victory. Standing at 7-foot-9, Rioux became the tallest player ever to participate in an NCAA game, marking a milestone moment for Florida basketball.
Historic Game Moment Overshadows Banner Reveal
The Gators' home opener featured the unveiling of their national championship banner, but the spotlight quickly shifted to a different historic event. In the final minutes of Florida’s 104-64 win over North Florida, the student section began chanting for Rioux to enter the game.
Coach and Crowd Celebrate Rioux
After some encouragement from the crowd, Florida head coach Todd Golden nodded to Rioux, who then stepped onto the court. Rioux recalled,
“Todd just looked at me. And I just (pretends to take shirt off) with my t-shirt.”
He added,
“It felt great. The support from everybody was amazing. Even on the bench and even with the fans. I’m very grateful.”
Record-Setting Appearance
Rioux entered the game with 2 minutes and 9 seconds left, officially becoming the tallest player in college basketball history. The crowd of 10,065 erupted in applause at this moment.
When asked about the significance of the record, Rioux responded modestly,
“It’s another day, I guess.”
Coach Golden shared a similar viewpoint, saying,
“Not something that I think that much about. I like the banner dropping before better. I'm happy for him that he got an opportunity to get out there tonight.”
Author's Summary
Olivier Rioux’s historic NCAA debut as the tallest player highlights a memorable milestone for Florida basketball amid a celebratory home opener.