The tallest college basketball player, Olivier Rioux, made NCAA Tournament history on March 20 when he stepped onto the court for the Florida Gators against Prairie View A&M.
With 1:54 remaining in the game and Florida leading by 62 points, head coach Todd Golden finally gave the go-ahead to Rioux. The Tampa crowd had been chanting “We want Ollie!” throughout the contest, and their patience was rewarded.
Rioux became the tallest player to ever appear in an NCAA Tournament game a record he added to his growing list of basketball milestones.
The 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman seized his moment immediately. After checking into the game, he hammered home a two-handed dunk for his first NCAA Tournament points, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Rioux closed the game with two points, two rebounds, and an assist as the Gators routed Prairie View A&M 114-55.
7'9 OLIVIER RIOUX DUNK ALERT 🚨
HE BARELY JUMPED OFF THE GROUND
Watch March Madness on TNT Sports pic.twitter.com/t5ftL13mJi
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 21, 2026Who Is Olivier Rioux?
Rioux, a native of Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada, is no stranger to records. At age 16, he set the Guinness World Record for the world’s tallest teenager, standing 7 feet and 7 inches at the time.
Now measuring 7 feet 9 inches and weighing 305 pounds, Rioux holds the distinction of being the tallest player to have played at either the amateur or professional levels.
Earlier this season, he added another “first” to his resume. On December 17, Rioux became the tallest player to ever score a point in college basketball when he made a free throw against Merrimack.
Sizing up the tallest player in college basketball history pic.twitter.com/dvzaFaBqiZ
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2026Rioux has appeared in 11 games this season for the Gators, including six Southeastern Conference matchups. While his role has primarily been as a reserve, his appearances draw significant attention due to his unprecedented height.
Florida entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed and advanced past Prairie View A&M in the opening round. While the team ultimately fell in later competition, Rioux’s March Madness debut became a memorable highlight of the tournament.
Read: Olivier Rioux to Become Tallest College Basketball Player at 7-foot-9
For basketball fans, Rioux is a player whose physical stature alone makes him a must-watch. His NCAA Tournament appearance cemented his place in college basketball history, adding to a legacy that began with world records and continues to grow with every game.
