The 7'9 Teen Basketball Phenom Who's Still Growing

Olivier Rioux stands at an astounding 7'9" — and he's not done growing. At just 18 years old, Rioux is the tallest teenager in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Now he's preparing for his NCAA debut in the fall, where he's one of the most anticipated names entering Division I sports.

Rioux, born in Montreal, Canada, broke the record for world's tallest teenager back in 2020 when he was measured at 7'5" as a 14 year old. Four years and four inches later, he has committed to play at the University of Florida in the fall, where he will become the tallest college basketball player of all time when he puts on the Gators uniform.

The incoming freshman is taller than Chet Holmgren, Bol Bol, and Victor Wembanyama — all of whom have influenced how the sport can make stars out of exceptionally tall players.

Rioux's growth trajectory has been remarkable. At eight years old, he was already 6'1", and by sixth grade, he was pushing 7 feet, according to the Gators' website. He surpassed the seven-foot mark before entering seventh grade.

By the time he was 12, a highlight reel of the then 6'10" Rioux went viral on social media, showcasing his dominance on the court.

This early exposure attracted significant interest from basketball prospects and led to his enrollment at IMG Academy in Florida in 2021, one of the top basketball prep schools in the United States, with 19 alumni selected in the NBA Draft since 2005.

If he played in the NBA now, he'd be tied with Cleveland's Tacko Fall as the league's tallest player.

When Rioux arrived at prep school, the native French speaker struggled with a language barrier. He's since been given a private tutor to assist him with his classes and understanding instructions on the basketball court.

"It was nice," Rioux said about his first year in Florida. "I called my parents almost every day, and the school year was good; my grades improved."

He plays as a center, utilizing his height, passing skills and timing in shooting decisions. On defense, Canada's national team head coach Sean McAloon said Rioux is still working to develop. Despite limited publicly available statistics from his high school career, he was rated as a three-star recruit by On3.com.

Additionally, Rioux has represented Canada in international tournaments, such as the FIBA U18 AmeriCup, where he averaged 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Rioux comes from a notably tall family, with his father standing at 6'8", his mother at 6'2", and his older brother at 6'9". He wears a size 20 shoe and has grown at a rate of about 3.9 inches per year since he was 12. Doctors have told the family he hasn't stopped yet.