Florida basketball's Olivier Rioux makes NCAA history as tallest player to play in a game

Florida Basketball's Olivier Rioux Sets NCAA Record

Redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux made history in Florida's dominant win over North Florida. Standing 7-foot-9, Rioux became the tallest player ever to appear in an NCAA game.

Historic Moment Overshadows Championship Banner

The Gators' home opener featured the unveiling of their national championship banner, but the spotlight quickly shifted to Rioux’s entry on the court during the final minutes of the 104-64 victory.

Fan Support and Coach’s Decision

With 2 minutes and 9 seconds remaining, the student section chanted for Rioux to play. Florida head coach Todd Golden responded to the crowd's enthusiasm by putting Rioux into the game.

“Todd just looked at me,” Rioux recalled. “And I just (pretends to take shirt off) with my t-shirt.” “It felt great. The support from everybody was amazing. Even on the bench and even with the fans. I’m very grateful.”

Setting the Record

Rioux’s appearance officially set the record for the tallest player in college basketball history and sparked a loud reaction from the crowd of 10,065 fans.

“It’s another day, I guess,” Rioux said modestly about holding the record.

Coach’s Perspective

Coach Golden downplayed the significance of the record, expressing more excitement about the championship banner unveiling but was happy for Rioux’s opportunity.

“Not something that I think that much about,” Golden said. “I like the banner dropping before better. I'm happy for him that he got an opportunity to get out there tonight.”

Summary: Olivier Rioux's historic NCAA debut as the tallest player highlighted Florida's home opener, earning fan praise and a record-setting moment that added excitement beyond the championship banner reveal.

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Gainesville Sun Gainesville Sun — 2025-11-07

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