Florida landed a commitment from center Olivier Rioux, putting the world’s tallest teenager in the Gators’ 2024 basketball class.
Rioux, from Quebec, Canada, is listed as 7-foot-6. The Guinness Book of World Records named him the tallest living male teenager in December 2020, measuring him at 7 feet and 5.33 inches, and there’s a real possibility he’s grown since then.
He plays at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and he announced his commitment to coach Todd Golden and the Gators on Wednesday via Instagram. He said he will arrive in Gainesville for the 2024-25 season, and 247Sports confirmed he is reclassifying from 2025.
He is ranked by On3 Sports as a three-star prospect and the No. 147 player in 2024.
Currently, the tallest player in college basketball is Jamarion Sharp of Ole Miss, who is 7-5 and 235 pounds.
Rioux has a bit more bulk to him. On3 lists Rioux at 275 pounds.
Despite his size, Rioux appears to have been lightly recruited. On3 Sports lists his only offers as coming from Florida, Stetson and Florida Atlantic. He played on Canada’s U16 national team.
–Field Level Media
