“Move over Edey” “GEEZ!!” - College hoops fans react to Florida commit Olivier Rioux’s impressive height progress

Olivier Rioux was declared the tallest male teenager by the Guinness World Records in 2021 when he stood at seven feet and 5.33 inches. He hasn't stopped growing since then and was listed at seven feet and nine inches when he committed to the Florida Gators on Thursday.

Rioux is known for his ability to score points without needing to jump. He will be an asset for the Gators, as his towering presence allows him to block shots with ease and dominate the paint.

He was a key player at IMG Academy in Florida and was rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and On3. As a member of Canada's national team who competed in the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, he recorded 3.2 ppg and 3.4 rpg in five games.

Beyond his stats, his height has caught the eyes of fans who took to Twitter to react.

"GEEZ!!!!!" said another.

Some fans compared him with Duke Blue Devils forward Kyle Filipowski and called him a future candidate for NPOY.

Meanwhile, some talked about the difficulties he might face due to his height — like former Purdue star and fellow Zach Edey.

"The way they treated Edey.. Hope he is ready to get clobbered," said another.

According to reports, Rioux also uses a shoe size of 20. Hailing from Terrebonne, a great height runs in his family.

His father, Jean-Francois, measures six-foot-eight, whereas his mother, Anne Gariepy, is six-foot-one. He also has an older brother who also stands tall, at six-foot-nine.

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What did Olivier Rioux say in his Gators' announcement?

Syndication: The Daily Times

Olivier Rioux will start his collegiate journey with the Florida Gators in the upcoming 2024-25 season after committing to them last year.

"I am proud to announce that I have committed to the Florida Gators for the 2024 season. I want to thank all my coaches from @imgabasketball and @brookwoodelite in helping me in the process. The adventure continue in Florida!," Rioux wrote.

A great rebounder, Olivier Rioux has good hands and touch but is expected to improve coordination, especially in quick-reaction situations. After getting knocked out of the NCAA tournament, the Gators will look to do better next season, and Rioux is expected to step up.