7-foot-9 Florida center Olivier Rioux makes historic college hoops debut

Florida’s 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux made history Thursday night, stepping onto the court as the tallest player ever to appear in a college basketball game. Fans had long anticipated his debut, eager to see the redshirt freshman in action.

Coach Todd Golden’s Patience Pays Off

During halftime of Florida’s decisive win over Northern Florida, coach Todd Golden heard chants from the stands calling for Rioux to play. He later admitted that he preferred to wait for the right moment.

“I said, ‘Listen, it will happen, the time will come.’ I can be stubborn. I don’t listen to direction very well at times, so when they’re yelling at me to do it, it’s kinda like, ‘Well, maybe I’ll wait a little longer.’”

With just over two minutes left in the game and the crowd chanting “We Want Ollie,” Golden finally gave in. Rioux walked to the scorer’s table, drawing an enthusiastic ovation from fans.

Making College Basketball History

Rioux’s appearance marked a milestone, cementing his place as the tallest athlete in NCAA basketball history. He played two minutes in the defending champions’ 104-64 victory but did not record any statistics.

“The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans. I think everybody supported, and I’m very grateful.”

Author’s Summary

Olivier Rioux’s debut electrified fans and marked a new chapter in college basketball, as the 7-foot-9 Florida center officially became the tallest player ever to take the NCAA court.

New York Post — 2025-11-07