College basketball's tallest player has monster UC Irvine debut game - USA Today

The tallest player in college basketball history just started off the season with a statement.

Olivier Rioux, a 7'9 center, had an impressive debut with UC Irvine on Tuesday night with 13 points and 12 rebounds in 18 minutes -- his first career double-double. The junior used his massive height advantage masterfully, effortlessly grabbing boards and powering his way over his opponents on his way to the rim like a grown man playing against toddlers on a Fisher-Price hoop as he helped lead the Anteaters to a 92-66 season-opening win over Chapman.

Sophomore guard Luke Isaak added 16 points in his collegiate debut.

Rioux made headlines for his size as a member of the Florida Gators and went viral when he rose up for a monster putback over Prairie View A&M in their first-round March Madness game a season ago, but he saw the floor sparingly and scored just seven total points in 17 minutes in 2025-26, numbers he's already eclipsed in just one game with the Anteaters. He was also part of Florida's 2025 national championship team but redshirted that season.

The Quebec, Canada, native entered the transfer portal after the Gators were eliminated by the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second round of the tournament.

"After taking time to reflect on my journey and what's best for my future, I've decided to enter the transfer portal," he wrote on Instagram as part of a longer message at the time.

It's still early, but it looks like the bet Rioux made on himself is already paying off. UC Irvine has historically been a power in the Big West Conference under 16th-year head coach Russell Turner, and they could be a team to watch if the big man keeps developing.

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