The tallest player in college basketball history is trading the humidity of Gainesville for the sunshine of Orange County. Olivier Rioux, standing at an astonishing 7-foot-9, has announced his transfer to UC Irvine, following in the very large footsteps of former Anteater Mamadou Ndiaye.
Rioux, who grew up in Quebec and played at IMG Academy in Florida, was a preferred walk-on at Florida. Despite his record-breaking height, he saw limited action for the Gators, appearing in just 11 games and scoring seven points. His most memorable moment came in December 2025 when he scored his first college field goal against Saint Francis—a dunk he didn't even have to jump for. He also had a highlight-reel put-back dunk during the 2026 March Madness tournament.
Why the move? Florida is loaded. The Gators finished 27-8 last season, ranked No. 9 in the final AP poll, and are expected to be the No. 1 team heading into 2026-27. With stars like Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu all returning, playing time for Rioux was going to be hard to come by. Florida coach Todd Golden had noted that Rioux struggled with stamina, limiting him to just a few minutes per game.
Now, Rioux heads to UC Irvine, where he'll be the tallest player to ever suit up for the Anteaters—even taller than Mamadou Ndiaye, who stood 7-foot-6. Ndiaye was a two-time Big West Defensive Player of the Year and led Irvine to a conference title and NCAA tournament berth. He went on to play five seasons in the NBA, including a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Rioux is one of only three college basketball players in history taller than Ndiaye, according to ESPN. The Anteaters are hoping he can make a similar impact. Last season, UC Irvine won the Big West regular-season title but fell to Hawaii in the conference tournament. With a 32-7 record in 2024-25 and rising star Jurian Dixon returning, the team is poised for another strong run.
Whether Rioux becomes a dominant force or simply a fan favorite, one thing is certain: watching a 7-foot-9 player dunk without jumping is a sight every basketball fan will want to see.