UC Irvine center Olivier Rioux, listed at 7 feet 9 inches, made his Division I debut for the Anteaters on Tuesday, becoming the tallest player ever to start a Division I game. In a 92-66 victory over Chapman University (Division III), Rioux recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds along with one block in 18 minutes, shooting 6-of-9 from the field.
The Canadian transfer arrived from Florida this offseason after two seasons as a preferred walk-on with the Gators, including their 2025 national championship run. At Florida, Rioux appeared in just 11 games during the 2025-26 season, totaling 17 minutes behind a deep frontcourt featuring Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, and Rueben Chinyelu. His debut at UC Irvine already surpassed that total. Rioux first gained attention in 2021 when Guinness World Records recognized him as the tallest teenager in the world at 7-foot-5. Last season he became the tallest player in college basketball history to score a basket, and he famously did not need a ladder to cut down the nets after Florida's Elite Eight win over Texas Tech in 2025.
