Recently, social media has been buzzing about the latest addition to Florida basketball’s 2024 recruiting class, three-star center Olivier Rioux from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The excitement is not only because of his impressive height but also due to a recent update on the Gators’ website, which now lists him at a towering 7 feet 9 inches. If this measurement is accurate, Rioux would become the tallest person ever to play college basketball.
Despite his imposing stature, not much is expected from him in his first year with the program. He is viewed as a developmental project and a preferred walk-on for the team. However, Coach Todd Golden is confident that he can help Rioux improve and believes that he has the skills necessary to enhance his game on both ends of the court. Rioux himself is willing to be patient and work hard as he makes his way up the bench.
Rioux has represented Canada in international competition before, earning a bronze medal at the U18 FIBA AmeriCup in 2019 where he averaged 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. His recruiting ranking places him at No. 305 overall and No. 53 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite, with On3 industry ranking him slightly higher at Nos. 278 and 36, respectively. Stay tuned for more news, notes, and opinions about Florida Gators by following @GatorsWire on X (formerly known as Twitter) and liking our page on Facebook.
