GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In a historic moment for college basketball, Florida coach Todd Golden responded to enthusiastic fans calling for 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux to enter the game. With just 2:09 remaining in the match, Golden made the decision to put Rioux on the court, marking his debut in a 104-64 victory over North Florida. This appearance made Rioux the tallest player in college basketball history.

Rioux, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman from Canada, is recognized as the world’s tallest teenager. Despite the attention he garnered, he did not touch the ball during his time on the court. “It felt great,” Rioux said. “The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans. I think everybody supported me. I’m very grateful.” When asked about the significance of his record, he humorously remarked, “It’s another day, I guess.”

The crowd erupted in cheers as Rioux took the floor, with even North Florida forward Trey Cady smiling as he stood next to him, noting the height difference of over a foot. Golden had been aware of the fans' desire to see Rioux play, stating, “There’s people yelling at me at halftime about playing him. I’m like, ‘Listen, it will happen. The time will come.’”

Rioux stands 2 inches taller than former NBA players Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, and 3 inches taller than notable big men like Yao Ming and Tacko Fall. He had already secured a place in the Guinness World Records when he signed with Florida in 2024. Golden had previously given Rioux the choice to play limited minutes last season or take a redshirt year to develop his skills. Rioux opted for the latter, becoming a social media sensation for his unique experiences, such as riding a bike on campus and ducking under doorways.

“He’s put in a lot of great work,” Golden said. “To his credit, he’s kept a great attitude without getting a lot of reward in terms of playing time and opportunity.” Golden had indicated that Rioux would primarily play in blowout situations due to the return of all four frontcourt players. However, Rioux remained committed to the program, embracing the challenge of competing against teammates in practice.

“I talked to the guys at halftime when we’re up 24 and I expressed to them the importance of getting off to a really good start so we can get some of the younger guys and some of the guys from down on the bench an opportunity to play and to get some rip,” Golden explained. “Obviously the game was in our control and thought it would be a good opportunity to get him out there and get his first college experience, and I think he was pretty excited. It was pretty neat for him to finally see the floor.”

The loudest ovation of the night came when Golden signaled for Rioux to check in, second only to the pregame unveiling of Florida’s championship banner. Rioux quickly removed his long-sleeved T-shirt and rushed to the scorer’s table. Teammates and coaches celebrated, and fans cheered every time the ball approached him, although he did not get a chance to handle it during this game.

“It was so much fun,” teammate Micah Handlogten said. “When he was checking into the game, I kind of stopped him and I was like, ‘Play with confidence. You’ve worked your butt off for two years now to get to this spot. Now’s your moment. This is your time to shine.’ To see him out there running up and down the court with a little smile on his face, it was really good to see.”