Standing out in a crowd isn’t exactly a challenge when you’re Olivier Rioux. At a staggering 7’9”, the 18-year-old Canadian basketball prodigy turning heads for quite some time. Whether he’s strolling down the street or walking onto a basketball court, Rioux is a magnet for attention, with fans clamoring for photos and double takes at his incredible height. Currently red shirting his first season with the Florida Gators, Rioux has yet to hit the court officially, but his larger-than-life presence is already breaking the internet.

At 7’9”, he’s not just the tallest player in college basketball today; he’s the tallest in history, dethroning Kenny George’s 7’7” record. Even though fans must wait until next season to see him in action, Rioux’s dominance during warmups is enough to leave jaws on the floor. Every time he steps onto the hardwood, it’s as if the rims look a little lower and the court feels a little smaller.

By age 10, Olivier Rioux was already towering at 5’2”, and by 15, he hit an astonishing 7’5”, earning him the title of the world’s tallest teenager. Sure, basketball is a sport of giants, but Rioux is in a league of his own. To put things into perspective, if he suited up for the NBA tomorrow, he’d easily outshine the competition — and we’re not just talking about his skills.

For comparison, Rioux stands five inches taller than Purdue’s Zach Edey, the tallest current NCAA player, and even makes NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama look average. Forget Yao Ming (7’6”) or Gheorghe Muresan (7’7”); Rioux is rewriting the record books and redefining what it means to be a basketball giant.

And with such a monumental figure on the court, fans can’t help but joke about the sport itself needing adjustments.

Fans can’t stop talking about Rioux

“Bro can give me 5 inches and still be tall af,” one fan humorously said. While another added, “What does buddy have to warm up for? Just drop it in the cylinder, my dude!” But why is Olivier Rioux so tall? Even he doesn’t have a clear answer. “We’re still not 100 percent sure why I’m so tall,” he told Guinness in 2022. With a father at 6’8”, a mother at 6’2”, and an older brother towering at 6’9”, Rioux summed it up best: “We’re a pretty tall family.”

Meanwhile, fans aren’t just cracking jokes—they’re seriously questioning if basketball should adjust its rules for players like Rioux. “They gotta raise the rim for this f*** Ni**a,” one fan quipped, while another commented, “Going to have to start putting the net higher…” Still, height isn’t his only advantage. Rioux, who wears size 20 shoes, has represented Canada in multiple FIBA tournaments, including the U18 AmeriCup and U19 World Cup. He also helped Canada snag a bronze at the U16 Americas Championship. It’s clear his skills are as impressive as his stature.

“This is unfair😂,” one fan wrote. While another chimed in, “Why’s he warming up on a mini hoop?” But, it’s not all fun and games for the young Canadian. Rioux is sitting out the 2024-25 season, red shirting to preserve his NCAA eligibility. He’s focusing on training with the Florida Gators while holding off on playing actual games. Why? Even a single appearance would cost him one of his four years of eligibility.

Florida coach Todd Golden explained the decision: “This wasn’t a choice I made for him. It’s something people from our program, his family, and his AAU coach discussed.” Golden added, “I just told him, ‘I’m not trying to burn your year putting you in for 30 seconds.’” Luckily, Rioux has taken it all in stride, showing the patience of a player who knows his time will come.