The world's tallest college basketball player, Olivier Rioux (7-foot-9), is transferring from Florida to UC Irvine, seeking more playing time after two years of limited action with the Gators.
Olivier Rioux, the 7-foot-9 center recognized as the world's tallest college basketball player, is transferring from the University of Florida to UC Irvine. Rioux, 20, is making the move to Southern California in hopes of securing more playing time after a collegiate career at Florida where he redshirted his freshman year and played sparingly in his second season, totaling just 15 minutes, 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. Despite his limited on-court action, Rioux was a viral sensation due to his immense height, which surpasses NBA legends like Gheorghe Muresan, Manute Bol, and Yao Ming. UC Irvine expressed strong belief in Rioux, citing a long-standing relationship and his unique skill set and physical presence as a perfect fit for their program's tradition of dominant frontcourt players. Rioux had previously opted to redshirt at Florida to work on his game, and later welcomed the challenge of practicing against a deep frontcourt, even though it meant playing only in blowouts. UC Irvine, coming off a Big West regular-season title, is thrilled to add Rioux to their "Anteater family," expecting him to have an immediate impact and grow within their system.
