The world’s tallest teen has found a new home.
Former Florida basketball 7-foot-9 walk-on center Olivier Rioux, who entered the transfer portal earlier this month, has signed with UC Irvine.
UC Irvine recruited Rioux out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, but Rioux instead opted to play with the Florida Gators as a preferred walk-on. After redshirting during UF’s national title season in 2024-25, Rioux appeared in seven games for the Gators in 2025-26, tallying seven points and six rebounds.
“We are excited to welcome Olivier Rioux to our program,” UC Irvine coach Russell Turner said in a school-issued release. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community. He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine.
“We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.”
From Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada, Rioux holds the Guinness World Record for tallest teenager. He stood at 6-foot-1 by age 8, 6-foot-11 by sixth grade and crossed the 7-foot mark the summer before entering seventh grade.
Rioux was rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports, On3 and Rivals but lacked the ability to get up and down the floor consistently in UF head coach Todd Golden’s up-tempo offense. The move to UC Irvine should help Rioux gain more consistent playing time. The Anteaters went 23-12 overall and 15-5 in the Big West Conference last season.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Former Florida basketball 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux lands at UC Irvine
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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