Florida’s Olivier Rioux, the 7-foot-9 center who holds the distinction as the tallest player in college basketball history, announced Tuesday he is entering the transfer portal after two seasons with the Gators. The 20-year-old from Quebec, Canada, made the announcement through an Instagram post, with the transfer portal officially opening April 7.
“After taking time to reflect on my journey and what’s best for my future, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal,” Rioux wrote in his social media announcement. The Canadian giant played sparingly during his time in Gainesville, accumulating just 15 total minutes across 11 games this season after redshirting during Florida’s national championship campaign last year. He finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds and an assist in his limited playing time.
Rioux became the tallest person to ever play college basketball when he made his debut November 6 in a 104-64 victory over North Florida. He recorded his first points three games later, making a free throw after getting fouled, and later added his first rebound. The center attempted 6 shots this season and made 3, including a 1-for-3 effort in the Gators’ NCAA Tournament opener against Prairie View A&M with 2 rebounds and an assist.
“Winning the national championship last year was a dream come true for all of us,” Rioux wrote in his farewell message to Gator Nation. The Quebec native had set a Guinness World Record as the world’s tallest teen before stepping foot on campus, standing 2 inches taller than former NBA giants Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, and 3 inches taller than Yao Ming, Tacko Fall and Shawn Bradley. He signed with Florida in 2024 after playing at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Florida coach Todd Golden made it clear before this season that Rioux would only play late in blowouts, with all four frontcourt players returning from the championship team. Despite limited playing time, Rioux became a fan favorite in Gainesville, with supporters often chanting “Ol-lie” late in games to urge Golden to put him in. He never played more than 3 minutes in any single game but remained a viral sensation on campus, from riding his custom-made bike to ducking under doorways.
After his performance in the NCAA Tournament game against Prairie View A&M, where he recorded a memorable dunk, Rioux spoke about proving he deserved more significant playing time. “It’s very important,” Rioux said. “I think I did that today.” His brief exchange with awestruck Prairie View A&M forward Hassane Diallo, who stands 6-foot-8, became one of the viral moments of March Madness.
The transfer portal officially opens April 7, the day after the national championship game, giving Rioux and other players the opportunity to find new programs. As a third-year sophomore, Rioux will be looking for a chance to play more substantial minutes at his next destination while continuing to develop his game at the highest level of college basketball.