Florida’s 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux picks his transfer destination
Florida’s 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux picks his transfer destination initially appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The tallest participant in faculty basketball historical past has a brand new residence.
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Olivier Rioux, who spent the previous two seasons as a member of the Florida Gatorsyou could have transferred to UC-Irvine.
Rioux posted the information on his Instagram on Thursday morning, and his new program quickly introduced it themselves with this trippy graphic that emphasizes simply how large he’s:
If you need some irony, Rioux now performs for the Anteaters — and that is take away the grounded creature. No one would ever confuse an anteater for tall.
Rioux, although? He’s as tall as they get.
That did not do a ton for him at Florida. He confirmed up too uncooked to contribute to an SEC workforce that went on to win a nationwide title as he redshirted.
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Rioux hardly performed in 2025-26 both, however his hope will certainly be that within the Big West Conference, he can discover a extra constant path to contributing.
The large fella performed a complete of 16 minutes in 2025-26, making 3-of-6 subject targets and 1-of-2 free throws for 7 factors. He additionally had 6 rebounds, an help, a turnover and two fouls.
He lacks a few of the physicality and footwork that might actually enable his large body to be impactful.
His alternative of UC-Irvine probably indicators that the most important applications within the nation noticed that and weren’t notably , but it surely’s not a foul touchdown spot for Rioux, both.
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The Anteaters went 23-12 final season, together with 15-5 within the Big West. They’re a top quality mid-major program, they usually’ll definitely get extra viewers anytime Rioux is on the courtroom.
Rioux’s time at Florida could have confirmed what he wasn’t but able to. His hope will probably be that heading to Irvine will show what he truly can do.
