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WELCOME BACK TO UNC: 7-Foot-9 Olivier Rioux Shocks College Basketball World, Re-Commits to North Carolina Over Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The tallest player in college basketball history is coming to Chapel Hill.
Olivier Rioux, the 7-foot-9 center who became a viral sensation during his two seasons at Florida, announced Sunday evening that he has committed to North Carolina, choosing the Tar Heels over finalists Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas in a decision that instantly reshapes the 2027 college basketball landscape.
The Canadian giant, who spent the 2025-26 season at Florida before transferring to UC Irvine earlier this spring, reversed course and entered the portal once again following a coaching shakeup in Irvine. His commitment to new UNC head coach Michael Malone represents the most stunning recruiting victory of the young Malone era — and perhaps the most physically imposing player ever to wear Carolina Blue.
The Decision
Rioux made the announcement on his personal Instagram account with a simple caption: “Tar Heel Nation, let’s ride. 7’9″ and ready to work. #GoHeels.”
The decision caught recruiting analysts off guard. Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas had all been considered frontrunners for Rioux’s services after he entered the transfer portal in late August. Texas, in particular, appeared to have momentum after landing No. 1 prospect Marcus Spears Jr. earlier in the summer . Ohio State had already secured commitments from four-star forward Deng Ngor and four-star guard Jaxson Davis . Georgia had been building its 2027 class around in-state star Justin Wise .
But Rioux’s relationship with Malone, forged during Malone’s time as an NBA assistant, proved decisive.
“Coach Malone looked me in the eye and told me he didn’t see a novelty act,” Rioux said in a statement released by UNC athletics. “He saw a basketball player. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. I’m not here to be a sideshow. I’m here to help this program win championships.”
From Gainesville to Irvine to Chapel Hill
Rioux’s journey has been anything but conventional. The Terrebonne, Quebec native arrived at Florida as a Guinness World Record holder — the world’s tallest teenager — and redshirted during the Gators’ national championship season in 2024-25 . He made his collegiate debut in November 2025 against North Florida, becoming the tallest person ever to play college basketball .
His time at Florida was limited. Playing behind a deep frontcourt that included Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, and Micah Handlogten, Rioux appeared in just 11 games, playing 15 total minutes and scoring seven points . He became a fan favorite during the NCAA Tournament, cutting down nets while standing flat-footed and drawing chants of “We want Ollie” during Florida’s first-round blowout of Prairie View A&M .
Following the season, Rioux transferred to UC Irvine, where he hoped to find more playing time at the mid-major level. But when Anteaters head coach Russell Turner left for a Power Five job in August, Rioux re-entered the portal, opening the door for the most unusual recruiting battle of the summer.
What Rioux Brings to Carolina
The obvious headline is the height. At 7-foot-9, Rioux is two inches taller than NBA legends Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, and three inches taller than Yao Ming, Tacko Fall, and Shawn Bradley . He wears size 60 shoes and weighs 290 pounds.
But Malone and his staff believe Rioux is more than a curiosity. The UNC coaching staff has studied film of Rioux’s high school career at IMG Academy, where he showed surprising mobility for his size, a developing jump hook, and excellent hands in the pick-and-roll. In practice sessions at Florida, he reportedly held his own against Condon and Haugh, both of whom project as future NBA players.
“He has a soft touch around the rim,” one NBA scout told The Athletic. “The footwork is better than you’d expect. The issue has never been talent — it’s been opportunity. At a certain point, you have to see what he looks like with real minutes.”
Rioux’s presence will also transform UNC’s defensive identity. His sheer size alters every drive and post entry, and his standing reach — reportedly over 10 feet — makes him a natural deterrent at the rim even without elite vertical athleticism.
The Malone Effect
Rioux’s commitment is the latest evidence that Malone, hired in April following Hubert Davis’s departure, has revitalized North Carolina’s recruiting operation. The former Denver Nuggets head coach has already assembled a 2027 class that includes five-star targets CJ Rosser and Jordan Page , and his staff has been relentless in pursuing elite frontcourt talent .
Landing Rioux, however, represents something different. It’s a statement that UNC is willing to think creatively, to take calculated risks, and to trust its player development infrastructure to maximize unconventional talent.
“Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community,” Malone said in a statement. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family, and we believe he will have an immediate impact. His unique skill set and physical presence fit perfectly with what we’re building here.”
Those words echo nearly verbatim what UC Irvine’s Turner said when Rioux committed to the Anteaters in April . This time, Rioux hopes the ending is different.
The Competition
Rioux’s final four came down to programs with distinct pitches. Georgia, under Mike White, offered proximity to Rioux’s family in Canada and a rising program coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances . Ohio State, under Jake Diebler, offered a family atmosphere and a track record with international big men . Texas, under Sean Miller, offered the chance to play alongside Spears Jr. in what would have been the most physically imposing frontcourt in college basketball .
But North Carolina offered something none of the others could: the chance to be a Tar Heel, to play in the Smith Center, to wear the jersey worn by Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Tyler Hansbrough.
“The history here is real,” Rioux said. “You walk into that building and you feel it. I wanted to be part of something that mattered. Carolina matters.”
What’s Next
Rioux is expected to enroll at UNC in January and participate in spring practices. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining, having redshirted at Florida and played sparingly in his second season.
For Malone, the work continues. UNC remains in the mix for several elite 2027 prospects, including five-star forward Demarcus Henry and five-star wing Jordan Page . But for one night, the biggest story in college basketball is a 7-foot-9 Canadian who chose Chapel Hill over the rest of the basketball world.
Welcome back to UNC, Olivier Rioux. The ceiling, quite literally, has never been higher.
