Florida’s 7-Foot-9 Olivier Rioux Captivates March Madness

Olivier Rioux, a redshirt freshman center for the Florida Gators, has become a viral sensation during the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament due to his extraordinary height. The 7-foot-9 player drew a stunned reaction from Prairie View A&M’s Hassane Diallo during a first-round game on March 20, 2026, highlighting the remarkable size difference on the court.

Rioux’s Historic Season

With his appearance in the NCAA Tournament game against Prairie View A&M, Rioux became the tallest player to ever participate in an NCAA Tournament game. He previously made history on November 6, 2025, when he entered a game against North Florida, becoming the tallest player to ever play in an NCAA basketball game, surpassing Manut Bol’s 7-foot-7 height .

Rioux continued to break records, becoming the tallest player to ever score a point with a free throw on November 20, 2025, and the tallest to make a dunk on December 17 . He finished the game against North Florida with two points, one of which came from his historic dunk.

The Viral Moment

During the first-round matchup against Prairie View A&M, a moment between Rioux and Panthers player Hassane Diallo (listed at 6-foot-8) went viral. Diallo appeared visibly shocked as he stood next to Rioux, repeatedly looking up to take in the height difference . The image quickly spread across social media platforms, capturing the attention of basketball fans nationwide .

Background on Olivier Rioux

Olivier Rioux hails from Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada . He redshirted during the 2025 season for the Gators. At age 16, Rioux was already 7-foot-7, earning him a Guinness World Record as the world’s tallest teenager .

Key Takeaways

• Olivier Rioux is the tallest player in NCAA basketball history, standing at 7-foot-9.
• He has broken multiple records during the 2025-2026 season, including being the tallest player to appear in an NCAA Tournament game, score a point, and make a dunk.
• A viral moment with Prairie View A&M’s Hassane Diallo highlighted Rioux’s extraordinary height during the 2026 NCAA Tournament.