{"blocks":[{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Who is this 7-foot-9 athlete that is seemingly climbing to new heights and breaking records?"}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"His name is Olivier Rioux, and he is committed to Florida for basketball."}},{"type":"image","data":{"file":{"url":"https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/sipausa_46754049.jpg?w=1024"},"caption":"\n Olivier Rioux, the tallest teenager in the world. Hrvoje Jelavic/PIXSELL/Sipa USA"}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Here is an all-you-need guide about the staggering 18-year-old prospect."}},{"type":"header","data":{"text":"His parents are also tall","level":2}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Rioux is a Terrebonne, Canada native who gets his height from his family. His father stands at 6-foot-8, while his mother is a mind-blowing 6-foot-2."}},{"id":"jn3s9egw-egau909f","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/04/sports/mets-all-star-ron-hunt-in-hospice-care-with-multiple-illnesses/","meta":{"title":"First-ever Mets All-Star starter in hospice care while battling multiple illnesses","description":"","image":{"url":"https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/newspress-collage-kd9681gcd-1783191816157.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1783177443&w=171&h=114&crop=1"}},"variant":"compact"}},{"id":"ckrxdj24-5bxh647j","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/04/sports/angel-city-fc-celebration-erupts-into-chaos-as-pyrotechnics-blast-into-crowd/","meta":{"title":"4th of July celebration goes horribly wrong as fireworks shoot into crowd at Angel City show","description":"","image":{"url":"https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/newspress-collage-4w043qixo-1783192697850.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1783178361&w=171&h=114&crop=1"}},"variant":"compact"}},{"id":"8tbdvqx6-aw4g1mtl","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/04/sports/tim-hardaway-sr-s-reason-for-refusing-to-let-son-use-retired-heat-number/","meta":{"title":"Hall of Famer has simple reason for refusing to let his NBA star son use his retired number","description":"","image":{"url":"https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/newspress-collage-1ps4mau26-1783189670446.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1783175357&w=171&h=114&crop=1"}},"variant":"compact"}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"On his Instagram, which has over 100k followers, he lists himself as “7-7, 7-9 with shoes.”"}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He also added in his bio that his brother is 6-foot-9 and wears size 20 shoes. For reference, Shaquille O’Neal has the biggest shoe size in NBA history at 22."}},{"type":"header","data":{"text":"He’s currently the No. 305 prospect","level":2}},{"id":"i1b73u9u-aqd199qy","type":"embed","data":{"service":"youtube.com","source":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/vhESD3-K4Ro?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent","embed":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/vhESD3-K4Ro?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent","caption":"Video","height":"360","width":"640"}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The three-star prospect is ranked No. 305, per 247 Sports. "}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Rioux’s shoes barely have to leave the ground to meet the rim, as he has a 93-inch wingspan."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He congests the paint efficiently, which allows him to grab rebounds alongside shielding opponents away from the rim."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"On the offensive front, Rioux has grace while finishing at the rim. He is developing his coordination in quick reaction circumstances."}},{"type":"image","data":{"file":{"url":"https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/sipausa_46754031.jpg?w=1024"},"caption":"\n Olivier Rioux at 17-years-old. Hrvoje Jelavic/PIXSELL/Sipa USA"}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He played high school hoops at IMG Academy."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"While his official high school stats are unavailable online, the Florida website claims he put up 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds throughout the 2023 U18 FIBA AmeriCup. "}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"His efforts helped Canada claim a bronze medal."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Rioux flashed upside at the tournament with 10 points versus Venezuela and nine rebounds against Puerto Rico."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"It remains to be seen if his height and international success will translate to the NCAA level — and if it does, the possibility of him cracking an NBA lineup."}},{"type":"header","data":{"text":"Rioux has a Guinness World Record","level":2}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"This is not the first uproar around Rioux."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"In 2022, the Guinness World Book of Records listed him as the tallest living male teenager."}},{"type":"image","data":{"file":{"url":"https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/sipausa_46754039.jpg?w=1024"},"caption":"\n Olivier Rioux with the Canadian basketball team. Hrvoje Jelavic/PIXSELL/Sipa USA"}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"By the time Rioux was 8 years old, he was already standing at 6-foot-1. He entered middle school at 6-foot-11, and amassed the 7-foot mark the summer before entering seventh grade."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The average height of a male is 5-foot-9 and Rioux has towered to 7-foot-9, making just about any other person look minuscule next to him."}},{"type":"header","data":{"text":"Where does he rank among the other tallest college players?","level":2}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"

"}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Five previous college players were listed as 7-foot-6, with Tacko Fall, a 2019 UCF graduate, being the most recent. Five guys have also been one inch shorter than the 7-foot-6 group."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Fifteen players have also passed through the collegiate hoops scene at 7-foot-4, but none compare to Rioux at 7-foot-9."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":""}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The average height for college basketball players is just under 6-foot-5, with the most common height being 6-foot-7."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Adding Rioux to the mix might change those numbers a little."}},{"type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"But let’s pump the brakes before the Yao Ming comparisons start pouring in."}}]}

Sean Savage

Who is Olivier Rioux? The 7-foot-9 tallest college basketball player in history