GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida basketball head coach, Todd Golden, was receiving vocal requests at halftime on Thursday evening, urging him to insert the towering 7-foot-9 center, Olivier Rioux, into the game.
Golden eventually conceded with just 2 minutes and 9 seconds remaining in the contest — and in doing so, he created a noteworthy moment — following a wave of chants from the crowd at the O’Connell Center, all clamoring to see “Ollie.”
Rioux officially became the tallest individual to ever participate in college basketball when he made his inaugural appearance in a resounding 104-64 victory over North Florida. Rioux, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman hailing from Canada, who also holds the distinction of being the world’s tallest teenager, attracted so much defensive attention from the Ospreys that he was unable to actually get his hands on the basketball.
“It was an incredible feeling,” Rioux stated. “The support I received from everyone was truly amazing, both from the bench and especially from the fans. I truly felt like everyone was behind me. I am extremely thankful.”
When questioned about attaining this historic status, Rioux remarked, “I guess it’s just another day.”
Rioux brought smiles to the faces of everyone present in the arena. Even North Florida forward Trey Cady couldn’t help but grin as he compared his height to Rioux’s. Cady was at a disadvantage of over a foot in terms of height.
“During halftime, I had people persistently asking me to put him in the game,” Golden commented. “I had to explain that the moment would come when the time was right.”
Rioux is documented as being 2 inches taller than previous NBA legends like Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, and 3 inches taller than prominent big men such as Yao Ming, Tacko Fall, and Shawn Bradley. He had already secured his place in the Guinness World Records before committing to play for Florida in 2024.
Golden presented Rioux with two options: either play limited minutes last season or take a redshirt season to concentrate on refining his skills. Rioux opted for the latter. Despite not playing much, he became a social media phenomenon, whether he was riding his bicycle around campus, ducking to pass through doorways, or casually cutting down nets while standing on the ground during Florida’s NCAA tournament journey.
“He has dedicated himself to improving,” Golden noted. “And to his credit, he has consistently maintained a positive outlook, even without significant playing time or opportunities.”
Golden had previously stated that Rioux’s playing time would be limited to the final stages of one-sided games, mainly because the team already had four returning frontcourt players. However, Rioux was committed to playing for Florida and embraced the difficulty of competing against Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, and Micah Handlogten during practices and supporting them during games.
“I discussed the situation with the team at halftime, when we had a 24-point lead, emphasizing the importance of starting strong so that some of the younger players and those on the bench could have the chance to play and gain some experience,” Golden explained. “The game was clearly in our favor, so I believed it was a suitable time to give him some playing time and his initial college experience, which I think he was very excited about.
“It was a special occasion for him to finally step onto the court.”
The fans erupted with the loudest cheer of the game — only surpassed by the unveiling of Florida’s championship banner during the pregame introductions — when Golden signaled to Rioux, who was seated at the end of the bench. Rioux swiftly removed his long-sleeved T-shirt and rushed to the scorer’s table to check in.
His teammates and coaches celebrated enthusiastically, and the fans cheered loudly every time the ball came close to Rioux. However, he will have to wait until his next game to actually handle the ball.
“It was incredibly exciting,” Handlogten said. “As he was preparing to enter the game, I paused him and said, ‘Play with self-assurance. You’ve worked tirelessly for two years to reach this point. Now is your chance. This is your moment to shine.
“Seeing him on the court, running back and forth with a slight smile on his face, was truly gratifying.”
