The morning light slants through high windows at Florida State University’s basketball practice facility, casting long shadows that somehow still fall short of Olivier Rioux. At 7’9″ (236 cm), the Quebec-born center moves across the court with a deliberate grace that belies his extraordinary stature. Players around him look like children in comparison, yet there’s something profoundly humble in his demeanor as he reaches up—barely needing to stretch—to slam the ball through the hoop.
“Sometimes I forget how tall I am until I see photos or catch my reflection,” Rioux tells me with a slight French-Canadian lilt to his voice. “But then someone asks for a picture in the grocery store, and I remember, ‘Oh yeah, I’m that guy.'”
That guy is now officially the tallest player in NCAA basketball history, breaking the previous record held by Kenny George who stood 7’7″ when he played for UNC-Asheville from 2006-2008. But Rioux’s journey to Florida State wasn’t just about his height—it represents years of dedication to developing his game beyond the novelty of his physical presence.
I first met Olivier in 2023 when he was still attending IMG Academy in Florida, already holding the Guinness World Record for tallest teenager. Back then, college recruiters weren’t sure if his frame would be an asset or liability at the highest levels of competition. Two years later, watching him execute a perfectly timed hook shot over a 6’10” defender, those doubts seem almost laughable.
Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton, known for developing unconventional talent, says Rioux offers something beyond measurables. “Everyone sees the height, but they miss his basketball IQ and work ethic. He studies the game constantly. When your tallest player is also your most dedicated student of basketball, that creates a special dynamic.”
Rioux’s basketball journey began in Montreal, where his extraordinary growth made him both a curiosity and a prospect from an early age. By 15, he was already 7’5″ and playing in Spain’s youth leagues before transferring to IMG Academy to develop against American competition. Statistics Canada estimates that the probability of reaching Rioux’s height is less than one in several million, making him truly one of a kind.
Dr. Sanjay Sharma, a sports medicine specialist at the University Health Network in Toronto who has studied extremely tall athletes, explains the unique challenges. “The human body isn’t designed for this extreme height. Athletes like Olivier must work twice as hard on mobility, joint stability, and cardiovascular conditioning just to move efficiently.”
Indeed, watching Rioux’s conditioning drills reveals the special programming his coaches have developed. While his teammates run traditional sprints, Rioux performs carefully calibrated movement patterns designed to protect his knees and back—vital considerations for his long-term health.
“My body is both my greatest asset and my biggest challenge,” Rioux acknowledges during a break in practice. “I’ve had to learn how to fall safely, how to sleep comfortably, even how to find clothes that fit. Basketball gives all that meaning.”
What strikes me most while spending time with Rioux isn’t his height but his perspective. Despite the stares, the constant questions, and the expectations that come with his physical uniqueness, he maintains a centered calm that feels wise beyond his years.
“People ask if I wish I were shorter, and honestly, I don’t,” he says, carefully folding himself into a reinforced chair in the team lounge. “This is who I am. My height has given me opportunities, but it also taught me patience. When you’re this different, you learn to be comfortable with yourself.”
On campus, Rioux has become something of a beloved figure. Fellow students have created a “Rioux’s Crew” section at home games, and his presence has boosted attendance by nearly 30% according to Florida State Athletics. Yet Rioux seems largely unaffected by the attention, focusing instead on his kinesiology studies and improving his game.
“I’m probably the only player who can practice dunking flat-footed,” he laughs. “But that’s not basketball. I’m working on my footwork, my timing, my shooting touch from 15 feet. Height helps, but it’s not enough.”
NBA scouts are already regular attendees at Florida State games, evaluating whether Rioux could join the ranks of extraordinary tall players like Gheorghe Mureșan and Manute Bol who carved out professional careers. Sports Illustrated recently projected him as a potential second-round pick in 2027, noting his improved lateral movement and touch around the rim.
His roommate and teammate, point guard Marcus Williams, offers perhaps the most insightful perspective on Rioux. “Living with Oli is just living with a teammate who happens to need custom-made everything,” Williams says. “But what people don’t see is how hard he works when nobody’s watching. He’s up at 5 AM doing mobility work just so his body can handle practice later. That’s the part that makes him special, not the height.”
As our time together winds down, I watch Rioux sign autographs for a group of wide-eyed elementary school students visiting campus. He kneels down to their level—a substantial gesture requiring considerable effort—and speaks to each child individually.
“The world wasn’t built for someone my size,” Rioux tells me later. “Doorways, airplane seats, shower heads—they’re all reminders that I’m different. But basketball courts? They feel like home. Like they were waiting for someone exactly like me.”
In a sport that celebrates extraordinary physical gifts, Olivier Rioux stands literally and figuratively above the rest. Yet his greatest achievement may be how he carries himself both on and off the court—with humility, purpose, and an awareness that while he may be the tallest player in college basketball history, his true measure will ultimately be about much more than inches and centimeters.
