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Florida heart Olivier Rioux made historical past on Wednesday throughout his workforce’s 102-61 win over Saint Francis. Rioux, who stands at 7-foot-9, turned the tallest participant in school basketball historical past — at any stage — to attain a basket. His lone factors of the sport got here with 42 seconds remaining, when he threw down a two-handed flush.
Rioux, 19, had beforehand appeared in two video games this season for the reigning nationwide champions. Rioux logged two minutes in opposition to North Florida final month and scored the primary factors of his school profession in opposition to Merrimack two weeks later. The middle from Canada logged three minutes in that sport and went 1 of two from the free-throw line.
Right here is Rioux’s basket in opposition to Saint Francis that made historical past.
In 2021, Guinness World Data declared Rioux the tallest teenager on the earth at 7-foot-5. When he checked in in opposition to North Florida final month, he turned the tallest school basketball participant ever to seem in a sport.
“It felt nice,” Rioux, who redshirted his first season with the Gators, stated after his first profession sport. “The assist from everyone was wonderful, even on the bench and even the followers. I feel everyone supported me. I am very grateful.”
Rioux didn’t seem in a sport through the 2024-25 marketing campaign for the Gators. Florida has one of many deepest frontcourts within the nation, led by Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Micah Handlogten and Rueben Chinyelu. Though Rioux is not a part of the rotation but, Wednesday was a optimistic signal for his total improvement.
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