Florida's 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux Finally Makes His College Basketball Debut
It was a long-awaited moment for Florida Gators fans when Olivier Rioux, standing at 7 feet 9 inches, approached the scorer’s table with just two minutes left in Thursday night’s game. The tallest player in college basketball was finally making his debut.
The matchup turned out to be a dominant 40-point win over North Florida, so Rioux’s entry was largely symbolic, but it drew huge cheers from the crowd. As fans erupted, cameras captured the scene shared by the SEC Network on social media.
“Gator fans went WILD for Olivier Rioux checking into the game 🐊 (via @SECNetwork)”
Rioux didn’t record any stats in his short appearance, serving instead as a celebratory “victory cigar” for the Gators. The team bounced back from a tough season opener loss to No. 13 Arizona, finding their rhythm at home against an in-state rival.
The defending national champions scored 52 points in each half, cruising to a 104–64 win. Rioux had been on campus the previous year as a redshirt freshman, already part of the championship roster and known for cutting down his own piece of the net — directly from the ground.
Author’s Summary
Olivier Rioux, the Gators' 7-foot-9 center, finally debuted in college basketball, thrilling fans during Florida’s 104–64 win over North Florida.