At seven feet, nine inches, Olivier Rioux is definitely TMOC: Tallest Man On Campus. This season, he’s also the tallest playing college hoops. Sort of. The head-turning teen will start his first college basketball season at the University of Florida redshirted.
“You get asked questions every day,” says Olivier, who holds the Guinness world’s tallest teenager record. “You just get used to it. Talking to people is nice because they are curious, and you can’t change that.”
Olivier grew up in Quebec, Canada. He was taller than most of his teachers in elementary school, crossed six feet by age eight, and topped seven before seventh grade. Today, he’s three inches taller than popular NBA “bigs” Yao Ming and Shawn Bradley.
On campus, Olivier ducks to pass through doorways. He wears a size 20 shoe, and squeezing into a classroom desk is comical.
By now, his teammates at are used to being towered over. Still, 7-foot-1 Gators center Micah Handlogten says, “It’s really weird looking up to someone.”
Olivier takes the situation in his (very long) stride.
“He doesn’t seek the attention, but he also doesn’t get annoyed,” Handlogten says of his teammate. “And he always has that bright smile on his face.”
Rioux, known as “Oli,” can dunk without jumping and has a nearly unstoppable hook shot. He’s worked hard to prepare for Division I basketball.
No one expects him to be a star right away, and he seems to have much to learn about playing on the college level. That’s why he’s redshirting this year.
The term redshirt refers to postponing a player’s full involvement. An athlete may sit out a season of a college sport while preserving his or her four-year-eligibility. During a redshirt year, a student-athlete can attend classes, practice with the team, and play in a limited number of games.
Reasons for redshirting vary from injury recovery to grades improvement.
During his redshirt time with the Gators, Oli’s mobility, coordination, and conditioning have developed. Coach Todd Golden says Olivier “has flashes in practice where he’ll make some plays and you’re like, ‘Whoa.’”
Golden sees “potential”—but wants Rioux to use his 305-pound frame to be more aggressive. Next year, the coach plans to reevaluate.
While Oli may not play much this season, the Gators expect him to be a fan favorite. “About 95% of my conversations with random people about our team are about him,” Golden says. “He’s a very unique individual.”
Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7
Why? It may seem disappointing to make a team and then not be allowed to play right away. But there is wisdom that comes with patience, hard work, and time for skills to be developed well.