Meet Olivier Rioux, a towering high school student due to play for the University of Florida in the forthcoming semester, standing at an impressive 7ft 9in. His imposing stature is evident among his peers on the basketball court, resembling an adult amateur trying to outperform adolescents for amusement. The only aspect of Rioux that isn’t grand-scale are his anecdotes.
Rioux’s considerable growth rate has been noticed for quite a while: he was a mere 5ft 2in in kindergarten, expanded to 6ft 1in at eight and reached 7ft by the time he was 12, making him appear larger than the 6ft 9in basketball star, LeBron James. Coverage of Rioux gaining the upper hand over his less fortunate opponents have made waves on social media, creating a mesmerising illusion comparable to the renowned dress meme. (Are his competitors six feet or six years old?) Guinness World Records anointed 14-year-old Rioux as the globe’s tallest teenager at 7ft 5in four years ago. This put Rioux a step further than NBA newcomer, Victor Wembanyama, standing at 7ft 4in. Rioux even dominates famous NBA giants such as Gheorghe Mureșan (7ft 7in), Yao Ming (7ft 6in) and Sim Bhullar (7ft 5in). Michael Meeks, assistant coach of the Canada national team, believes Rioux’s size generates significant anticipation: “People see his size and their expectations are pretty high.”
Rioux isn’t the only towering member of his family. With his father, a professional photographer, measuring 6ft 8in, and his mother, an ex-volleyball player, standing at 6ft 1in, height runs in their genes. His elder brother, a former basketball player, is even taller at 6ft 9in. Rioux frequently encounters height-related commentary, often in the form of public attention and shouting. While he recognises the humour in it, he expressed to the Naples Daily News that it can be quite vexing.
As a native of the Montreal suburbs, Rioux grew up exclusively speaking French. While he could have avoided language challenges by pursuing hockey, a very popular sport among children of his age, he outpaced this sport due to his height. Already towering above the highest player in the NHL by age 10, the potential threat to his physical wellbeing became too conspicuous to neglect.
In 2021, language surfaced as a major challenge when Rioux shifted to IMG sports academy in Florida to polish his basketball skills in anticipation of competing with more talented, equally tall players. However, his ability to slam-dunk without jumping is a valuable skill.
Private tutoring has significantly aided in Rioux’s academic performance while aiding him to understand basketball strategies. True to his statement, Rioux’s first year in Florida saw an improvement in his grades. However, with the recent surge of French players in the NBA draft, it would appear that American basketball may need to develop a familiarity with French. Rioux discussed the younger French generation’s hope in the wake of three French individuals being selected in the top six in this year’s draft. He highlighted the trail blazed by the older generation, which has set the stage for the younger one.
France seems to be at a similar turning point in basketball to where Canada was half a decade ago. It was then that a record-breaking six Canadians were drafted right after the Toronto Raptors claimed Canada’s inaugural NBA championship. Steve Nash no longer represents the epitome of Canadian basketball talent. Today, Canadian basketball players show a diverse range of skills, including the superstars (like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), the stand-in (such as RJ Barrett), and the tough guy (Dillon Brooks). Nonetheless, as Rioux emerges potentially as the tallest player from Canada, one cannot evade the feeling that his time might have come two decades too late.
The sport of basketball once was a game where towering players like Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal exercised their authority in the inside paint. But with new regulations endorsing a more fluid style of play and statistical analytics pushing teams to focus on slam dunks and three-point shots, being extraordinarily tall isn’t the only requirement for success. Some seven-foot players, akin to Karl-Anthony Towns, often compromise their height advantage and position themselves at the perimeter, with varying outcomes at Minnesota. Wembanyama, another example, learned to play every position on the court as he grew rapidly into a center, exemplifying the global shift towards a positionless playing style.
This change in basketball style is evident in the drafting process. Back in the 1980s, the 7ft 4in Zach Edey would have been the initial pick. However, the Canadian dropped to ninth on Wednesday – behind a number of towers reminiscent of Towns – even though he possesses one of the most elegant skills in the low post in the collegiate game.
Suggesting that Rioux may make it to the NBA might be premature, as he must first demonstrate his actual skill in the game. Available statistics largely gleaned from Rioux’s contribution to Canada’s Under-18 team, featuring an average of under 10 points and 10 rebounds each game, does not indicate he is a giant in the field. Maintaining basic coordination at Rioux’s towering height could prove to be a significant hurdle, let alone if he continues to grow taller. It’s Wembanyama’s ability to possess the agility and skills of a less tall player that sets his court performance apart. Currently standing five inches above Wembanyama, Rioux is anticipated to grow even taller, on top of an already injury-prone body structure.
Rioux is beginning his journey with the Florida Gators as a favoured walk-on, denoting that securing a scholarship is contingent upon his success at acquiring a rotational position in the team. His position at Florida, a powerhouse in basketball with a strong track record of producing professional players, provides an excellent platform for Rioux to stand out at the national level. If people continue to marvel at and yell about Rioux, it’s due to the extraordinary heights he might yet reach in his career. – Guardian