Olivier Rioux, a 17-year-old prospect training at the IMG Academy in Florida has announced his next chapter, committing to join the Florida Gators and compete in NCAA Division 1 basketball from next season onwards. The 7’7″ center represents Canada internationally and has averaged 8.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in eight appearances.
Fans are shocked that another unicorn like Rioux could play in the NBA.
7'7 Olivier Rioux commits to Florida pic.twitter.com/EYx86BDjWA
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) November 9, 2023
One fan noted how NBA prospects are getting taller and more skilled, with the league in five years full of players in the Victor Wembanyama mold.
The league is gonna be full of Wembanyamas in 5 years
— Derick Angelo 🇪🇺 (@jeazous) November 9, 2023
One fan joked about the Canadian center needing to bend to dunk the ball.
Dude has to bend down to dunk 😭 💀
— Vinnie (@VinRBI) November 9, 2023
Fans also noted that he’s one of the first new-age prospects of this stature who has the weight to back up his size.
Bro probably has the rarest build of all time .. he’s 7’7 and isn’t extremely skinny 😭 if he gets to the NBA it’s over
— Qura (@Qurandale) November 9, 2023
Fans agreed that players like this are often found created by children in video games.
Bro a created player😂😂💀
— 🧑🏾🦯 (@KamSaucy2x) November 9, 2023
Some injury concerns were also brought up, as fans are concerned if his knees can handle not only his height but also his weight.
https://twitter.com/salveregalo/status/1722471324788875740
Some fans are concerned that the league will start phasing out small players and everyone will need to be 6’6″ or taller to be in the league.
https://twitter.com/xKingRei/status/1722462484743786765
If Rioux ends up making it to the NBA, he would be tied for the tallest player to enter the league.
The Canadian center is taller than Shaq, Wemby, AND Yao Ming 🤯 @brhoops
(via @courtsidefilms) pic.twitter.com/eJGTRj8fJC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 9, 2023
Gheorghe Muresan is the only other 7’7″ player who made it to the NBA, so Rioux could make history soon, provided he has the skills to back up his size like we knew Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren did.
Who Is Olivier Rioux?
When you hear of a 7’7″ 17-year-old, it’s natural to wonder what the life story behind him is. Rioux is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the tallest teenager in the world. He was 7’5″ and 16 years old at the time, so who knows if he still has room to grow. There is no medical reason such as gigantism behind his size, as Rioux himself has clarified.
“We’re still not 100% sure why I’m so tall – after investigation, doctors could only explain it with the genetics that my family has. My father is 6’8″, my mom is 6’2″ and my older brother is 6’9″. So we’re a pretty tall family! It feels great being the height I am. I love it. I was always taller than the rest of my friends at school or teammates. This is what nature planned for me. I learned to be peaceful and happy about it.”
Rioux announced his commitment to the Gators’ men’s basketball program on his Instagram, as the start of the early signing period in NCAA Division I men’s basketball has opened up. Rioux’s announcement does not confirm he’ll be playing for the Gators, as he also needs a signed National Letter of Intent to play for the 2006 NCAA Men’s Basketball Champions.
What We Can Predict For Olivier Rioux In The NBA Draft?
Rioux was expected to be a member of the 2025 high school class but ended up reclassifying to be eligible to play in the NCAA next season. He isn’t as polished a prospect as some of the other giant players we’ve seen enter the NBA, so it’s likely he will spend more than just one season in the NCAA.
He is currently a three-star recruit, which means he’ll have to earn NBA Draft buzz for more than just his height. If he can showcase a grasp of fundamentals in college and be able to use his size to dominate, there’s a high chance he will fly up draft boards as we come closer to 2025. He can’t declare for the Draft before 2025, but it may be in his best interests to spend two seasons in the NCAA and develop his game before making the Draft jump.
On pure size alone, Rioux would be an NBA-caliber player. He isn’t as mobile as Wemby or Chet, so it’s likely he would be used in a similar respect to the players of his height who have made it to the league. While he won’t get treated like Boban Marjanovic and be unable to play more than 10-15 minutes, it’s likely teams wait to see if his speed holds up against college prospects to see if he can even be a factor in the switch-heavy NBA.
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