By Walking from his apartment to classes and then to the University of Florida’s basketball facility, Olivier Rioux poses for dozens – sometimes hundreds – of pictures a day. It’s all part of life for the 7-foot-9 freshman, who is the world’s tallest teenager and an intriguing basketball project for the 21st-ranked Gators.
At 2.4 meters (7 feet, 9 inches) tall, Rioux is the ultimate BMOC (Biggest Man On Campus) – and he’ll soon make basketball history when he takes the court this season. The cheerful Canadian will become the tallest player to ever compete in college basketball, supplanting the previous record holder, 7-foot-7 Kenny George of UNC Asheville.
“You get asked questions every day,” said Rioux, who enjoys drawing in his spare time. “You don’t have a single three seconds to yourself when you’re outside, which I was fine with because my brother and my dad are tall. As a family, we used to go out. That’s just how it was, and you can’t change that because people are curious.”
Rioux’s college teammates have quickly gotten accustomed to his towering presence. “It’s really weird looking up to someone,” said 7-foot-1 center Micah Handlogten. “But being around him just about every day, it’s just different when you’re out in public with him. People normally ask me, ‘You’re so tall. Do you play basketball?’ No one says a word to me (now). Everyone just looks to him. It’s kind of crazy.”
Rioux, who grew up in Terrebonne, Quebec, realized at a young age that he was different. He crossed the 6-foot mark by age 8 and topped 7 feet the summer before seventh grade. His family includes several other tall members, including a 6-2 mother, 6-8 father, and a 6-9 older brother.
Though Rioux has worked hard to prepare for Division I basketball, no one expects him to be an immediate star. Florida coach Todd Golden predicts he will be a fan favorite, with chants for “Oli” late in games. “That one we can see coming from a mile away,” Golden said. “About 95% of my conversations with random people about our team are about him.”
Rioux has flashed potential in practice, showcasing improved mobility, coordination and conditioning. Golden wants him to use his 305-pound frame to become more of a physical presence in the low post. The coach is excited to see Rioux’s development, noting, “Obviously, we can’t do that with anybody else.”
At just 19 years old, Rioux has already represented Canada’s national team in FIBA events. He’s one of six international players on Golden’s roster and a clear long-term project for the Gators. But with his size, skills and charming personality, Olivier Rioux is poised to become a unique and captivating figure in college basketball this season.
apnews.com
