Florida's Olivier Rioux, at 7-foot-9, becomes tallest player to appear in NCAA Tournament game

Rioux played the final 1:54, finishing one dunk in Florida's 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:55am

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Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman reserve center for the University of Florida Gators, made history by becoming the tallest player to appear in an NCAA Tournament game. Rioux entered the game with 1:54 left and immediately scored a dunk, drawing a loud ovation from the Florida-heavy crowd.

Why it matters

Rioux's height has already earned him several distinctions, including being the world's tallest teenager at age 16 and the tallest player to play, score, and make a field goal in a college basketball game. His appearance in the NCAA Tournament further cements his status as one of the most unique players in college basketball.

The details

Rioux, who redshirted last season to develop his 305-pound frame, is a head taller than everyone else on the Gators' tall team. He played high school basketball at the prep powerhouse IMG Academy, located 50 miles south of the tournament venue in Tampa, Florida.

  • Rioux entered the game with 1:54 left.
  • Earlier this season, Rioux became the tallest player to play in a college basketball game (Nov. 6 against North Florida), the tallest player to score in a game (Nov. 21 against Merrimack), and the tallest player to make a field goal in a game (a dunk against St. Francis on Dec. 17).

The players

Olivier Rioux

A 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman reserve center for the University of Florida Gators, who is the tallest player to appear in an NCAA Tournament game.

Micah Handlogten

The 7-foot-1 senior on the Gators' team, who is the next biggest player after Rioux.

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What’s next

Rioux's historic appearance in the NCAA Tournament is likely to generate more attention and interest in the young player, who could become a fan favorite and media sensation as his college career progresses.

The takeaway

Olivier Rioux's record-setting appearance in the NCAA Tournament highlights the unique talents and physical attributes of college basketball players, and demonstrates that even the tallest individuals can find success at the highest levels of the sport.