7-foot-9 teenager Olivier Rioux set to become tallest player in college basketball history

Rioux would surpass Paul Sturgess, the former center for Mountain State and Florida Tech, who stands at 7 feet 8 inches.

7-foot-9 teenager Olivier Rioux set to become tallest player in college basketball history

Olivier Rioux set to make history

At an astounding 7 feet 9 inches tall, Olivier Rioux, a rookie at the University of Florida, is poised to become the tallest player in college basketball history. Rioux, who recently graduated from high school, is continuously growing. His height two years ago was previously recorded as 7 feet 7 inches.

According to Collin Rugg on X (formerly Twitter), Rioux has a size 20 shoe and is the tallest teenager in the world. He was over six feet tall at eight years old, and by the time he reached the sixth grade, he was about seven feet tall. His mother is 6’2″ and his father is 6’8″. Rioux, who will play basketball for the Florida Gators, is from Quebec.

The player is listed as 7 feet 9 inches on the Florida Gators’ website, weighing 290 pounds. His basketball ability was apparent from an early age, and his talent and stature rapidly attracted notice. Rioux would surpass Paul Sturgess, the former center for Mountain State and Florida Tech, who stands at 7 feet 8 inches and is considered the all-time tallest collegiate basketball player, according to FOX Sports.

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It is interesting to note that Rioux’s status as the tallest teenager globally is again reinforced by his 7 feet 9 inches listing. Previously, Guinness World Records measured him slightly over 7 feet 5 inches, recognizing him as the world’s tallest teenager in December 2020.

Olivier Rioux is not the only player measured over 7-feet in college basketball history

There has been a lot of talk recently regarding the tallest player in college basketball history, Olivier Rioux. However, Rioux is not the only player to have a height over 7 feet in collegiate basketball history. The likes of Ralph Simpson and Zach Edey are amongst the most notable players to make a name in the sport, being over 7 feet tall in college basketball.

Sampson, who stands 7 feet 4 inches tall, was one of the most skilled players in his time. For three years in a row, Simpson won what is called the John Wooden Award. After concluding an incredible career at Virginia, he went on to become a four-time All-Star in the NBA. In 2012, he received induction to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile, Edey is well-known for his 2022 John Wooden Award victory. As a junior in 2022, the 7-foot-4 anchor averaged 22.4 points and 2.1 blocks. It now remains to be seen how the tallest player, Olivier Rioux performs for the Gators in the upcoming season.

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