Florida center Olivier Rioux, who stands 7'9", made history on Thursday by becoming the tallest player ever to appear in a Division I college basketball game. Rioux, a redshirt freshman, played the final 2:09 of Florida's 104-64 home victory against North Florida.
Although Rioux did not record any statistics during his brief time on the court, the limited minutes provided few chances to contribute. Originally from Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada, he played high school basketball at IMG Academy in Florida.
The Gators are currently 1-1 after a 93-87 loss to the No. 13 Arizona Wildcats to start the season. They aim to improve their record above .500 on Tuesday when they face their in-state rivals, Florida State.
"Rioux played the final 2:09 of Florida's 104-64 home win over North Florida."
Author's summary: Olivier Rioux, at 7'9", set a new Division I basketball height record, making a historic debut for Florida while showing potential for the future.