In a move that's turning heads across the college basketball landscape, UC Irvine has secured a commitment from Olivier Rioux—officially the tallest player ever to grace a collegiate or professional basketball court. Standing at a staggering 7-foot-9 and weighing 305 pounds, the rising sophomore center announced his transfer from Florida on Thursday, bringing three more seasons of NCAA eligibility to the Anteaters.

Rioux, who holds the Guinness World Record for tallest teenager, comes from a family of impressive stature: his father is 6-foot-8, his mother 6-foot-2, and his older brother 6-foot-9. "I wear size 20 shoes," Rioux told ESPN in January. "I eat 5,000 to 6,000 calories every day."

While at Florida, Rioux saw limited action, averaging just 1.5 minutes across 11 games last season. But the transfer to UC Irvine could be a game-changer. The Anteaters have a proven track record with towering centers—head coach Russell Turner previously developed 7-foot-6 Mamadou N'Diaye, who became the Big West Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and 2016 and still holds the program's blocked shots record.

For Rioux, this move is about more than just a change of scenery—it's a chance to make a real impact on the court. UC Irvine last made the NCAA Tournament in 2019, and with a 7-foot-9 anchor in the paint, they're hoping to end that drought. If Rioux can bring even a fraction of N'Diaye's defensive dominance, the Anteaters could be a force to reckon with in the Big West.