Maybe a fresh start is just what Olivier Rioux needed.
The hulking centre from Terrebonne, Que. made an emphatic debut with UC Irvine on Wednesday, notching a double-double in just 19 minutes of action.
Rioux racked up 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go with 12 rebounds and a block as the Anteaters picked up a 92-66 season-opening win over the Chapman Panthers.
The 20-year-old spent his first two seasons of NCAA basketball with the storied Florida Gators and was a member of the national champion-winning team in 2025. But Rioux was a redshirt player as a freshman and only made 11 appearances as a sophomore in 2025-26, averaging just 1.5 minutes per game and totalling all of 15 minutes.
Rioux then made the decision to transfer to UC Irvine in April, with hopes of securing more floor time, and did so, making his first college start on Wednesday.
“Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community," UC Irvine coach Russell Turner said in a statement when Rioux's decision to join the program was announced. "He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine.
"We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.”
At seven-foot-nine, Rioux is one of the world's tallest basketball players and previously set a Guinness World Record as the world's tallest teenager. He became the tallest person to ever play college basketball when he made his debut with the Gators in a 104-64 victory over North Florida last November.
Rioux has been a member of the Canadian men's national basketball program for three years and has made 18 appearances for Canada at the junior level. He first represented Canada at the 2021 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship, helping Canada win bronze, and has since competed with the Under-18 and Under-19 teams.
— with files from The Associated Press
