Olivier Rioux, a 19-year-old freshman for the Florida Gators, has officially etched his name into the record books. Standing at a staggering 7ft 9in (2.36m), the Canadian center became the tallest player in college basketball history to score a field goal after a late-game dunk during Florida’s 102-61 victory over Saint Francis on Wednesday.
Rioux was already recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest teenager in 2021 (then 7ft 5in). He debuted for the Gators last month, becoming the tallest person to ever step onto a college court.
If Rioux eventually reaches the NBA, he would surpass all current stars in height. Currently, the NBA’s tallest active player is Victor Wembanyama at 7ft 4in, followed by Zach Edey at 7ft 3in.
His height even exceeds the NBA's all-time tallest players, Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, both of whom measured 7ft 7in. He also stands taller than former record-holder Sun Mingming (7ft 8.98in), who retired from the Chinese league in 2014.
While the dunk was his first basket from the floor, Rioux had previously recorded his first collegiate point via a free throw against Merrimack on November 21.
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