(C) Sports Inquirer
GAINESVILLE, FL — Olivier Rioux, the 7-foot-9-inch (236.2 cm) freshman center for the University of Florida, officially made history on December 18 (KST) by becoming the tallest player ever to record a field goal in NCAA Division I basketball history.
The milestone occurred during a dominant performance by the Florida Gators against St. Francis University. With the Gators leading comfortably, the home crowd erupted into chants of "We want Rioux," prompting head coach Todd Golden to sub the freshman into the game. Rioux responded to the cheers by throwing down a dunk, marking his first official collegiate points and cementing his place in the record books. Florida went on to win the matchup 102-61.
"I feel like everyone—my teammates, the coaching staff, and the fans—is behind me," Rioux stated following the game. "It makes the moment feel incredibly special."
Surpassing Global Giants
A Canadian national, Rioux is currently recognized as the tallest basketball player in the world. His height surpasses that of the current Guinness World Record holder, China’s Sun Mingming, who stands at 7 feet 8.98 inches. Rioux, who is 0.02 inches (0.0508 cm) taller, is expected to be officially certified by Guinness shortly. This will not be his first entry in the book; in 2021, he was named the world's tallest teenager at 7 feet 5 inches (226.1 cm) before his latest growth spurt.
Height Comparison: NBA and NCAA
Rioux’s physical presence dwarfs even the legendary giants of the NBA. For comparison:
NBA All-Time Tallest: Manute Bol and Gheorghe Mureșan both stood at 7 feet 7 inches (231.1 cm).
NBA Active Tallest: Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs stands at 7 feet 4 inches (223.5 cm).
NCAA Predecessor: The previous record-holder for the tallest college player was Kenny George of UNC Asheville, who stood at 7 feet 7 inches.
While Rioux's height provides an undeniable advantage near the rim, scouts note that he is still developing the mobility and conditioning required for the fast-paced modern game. However, his debut dunk serves as a significant first step in what could be a historic collegiate career.
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