In a moment that brought the home crowd to its feet, Olivier Rioux, the Florida Gators' towering 7ft 9in centre, scored his first collegiate field goal with a powerful dunk during a commanding victory.
A Memorable Moment for the Record-Breaking Freshman
The historic play unfolded during the 23rd-ranked Gators' 102-61 blowout win against Saint Francis on Wednesday night. Rioux, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman from Canada, lumbered into the lane, caught a bounce pass from teammate CJ Ingram, and threw down a dunk that ignited the bench and fans at the Exactech Arena.
The 7ft 9in athlete, officially recognised as the world's tallest teenager, barely needed to leave his feet to complete the play. His coach, Todd Golden, marvelled at the transition and the sheer height of the dunk, quipping, "He was up there, man."
The Path to the Court: A Strategic Redshirt Year
Rioux's journey to this moment was carefully planned. Upon signing with Florida in 2024, Coach Golden presented him with a choice: play sparingly in his first season or take a redshirt year to focus entirely on developing his game. Rioux chose the latter, dedicating himself to improvement before competing.
Despite not playing last season, his extraordinary stature made him a viral sensation on campus. From navigating doorways to cutting down nets flat-footed during Florida's NCAA Tournament run, he was a constant source of fascination. He made his official debut earlier in November against North Florida, becoming the tallest person ever to play college basketball.
Navigating a Crowded Frontcourt and Looking Ahead
Coach Golden has been transparent about Rioux's role, stating the player would only feature late in games already decided, a result of Florida's depth with four experienced frontcourt players returning. Rioux, however, embraced the challenge, choosing to stay and compete daily in practice against teammates like Alex Condon and Micah Handlogten.
His first points came via a free throw a few games prior, but the dunk against Saint Francis was a clearer demonstration of his potential impact. Teammates celebrated wildly, with guard Xaivian Lee admitting, "We were just going crazy." While his stamina currently limits him to short bursts, the play highlighted how his unique physical presence can alter a game.
Standing two inches taller than former NBA giants Gheorghe Mureșan and Manute Bol, and three inches above Yao Ming and Tacko Fall, Rioux's development will be one of the most intriguing stories in college basketball this season. For now, Florida fans will continue to chant "We want Ollie" whenever the Gators build a commanding lead, hoping for another glimpse of their gentle giant making history.
