Before playing a game for the University of Florida, Olivier Rioux has extended his Guinness World Record as the world's tallest teenager, now standing at 7ft 9in. The 18-year-old, who was measured at 7ft 7in two months ago, will become the tallest player in Division I men's basketball history when he joins the Gators this autumn.
Rioux's height surpasses the previous tallest Division I players, Jamarion Sharp and Connor Vanover, both at 7ft 5in. He also towers over the tallest NBA players ever, Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, who stood at 7ft 7in. At 15, Rioux was already 7ft 5in, drawing interest from college programmes before committing to Florida last November.
A three-star prospect according to 247Sports Composite, Rioux ranks just outside the top 300 players nationally for the 2024 recruiting class. He is considered the 53rd-best centre in the country and the 27th-best player in Florida. Rioux plays for IMG Academy in Bradenton, a powerhouse private school.
Rioux also received offers from Stetson and Florida Atlantic, as well as Nebraska. He will join a Gators team that reached the NCAA Tournament last season, where they were eliminated by Colorado in the first round.
