Former Florida center Olivier Rioux has announced his next destination after entering the transfer portal last month. The tallest player in NCAA basketball history is on his way to UC Irvine.
Rioux emerged as a fan favorite during his time with the Gators but was limited to a bit-part role under Todd Golden. The 7-foot-9 center made only 11 appearances in two years with Florida and entered the transfer portal in the offseason in search of more playing time.
Olivier Rioux Leaves Florida for UC Irvine, Drawing Strong Reactions
As news broke about Rioux’s move to UC Irvine, college basketball analysts hyped up the move as an opportunity for him to make a big impact in California.
College basketball writer Brian Rauf expects Anteaters head coach Russell Turner to help get the best out of Rioux next season.
“Remains to be seen what kind of impact Rioux can actually have on the court given his lack of mobility, but Russ Turner’s defensive scheme excels with bigs that are more rim protectors than mobile. If Rioux is going to become a productive player, this is the best place for him,” he wrote on X.
Remains to be seen what kind of impact Rioux can actually have on the court given his lack of mobility, but Russ Turner’s defensive scheme excels with bigs that are more rim protectors than mobile.
If Rioux is going to become a productive player, this is the best place for him https://t.co/laHZtxHd01
— Brian Rauf (@brauf33) April 30, 2026
Sports journalist Jarvis Haren drew comparisons between Rioux and Mamadou Ndiaye, who played under Turner for UC Irvine from 2013 to 2016.
“There’s big and then there’s BIG! Russ Turner coached 7’6″ Mamadou Ndiaye 2013-16 at UCI so why not run it back with another BIG,” he wrote.
There’s big and then there’s BIG!
Russ Turner coached 7’6″ Mamadou Ndiaye 2013-16 at UCI so why not run it back with another BIG! https://t.co/DWv7vetBMM
— Jarvis Haren (@jarvisharen) April 30, 2026
College basketball analyst Matthew Winick believes Rioux could be a shrewd addition for UC Irvine, given Turner’s style of play. The veteran coach has been at UC Irvine since 2010 and places a large emphasis on rim protection, defense, and rebounding.
“This is the most fascinating transfer get in the country. Olivier Rioux was a preferred walk-on at Florida, but goes to a UC Irvine team that plays a defensive scheme that could work for Rioux’s game. Russell Turner turned 7-6 Mamadou Ndiaye into a real player a decade ago,” he wrote.
This is the most fascinating transfer get in the country. Olivier Rioux was a preferred walk-on at Florida, but goes to a UC Irvine team that plays a defensive scheme that could work for Rioux’s game.
Russell Turner turned 7-6 Mamadou Ndiaye into a real player a decade ago. https://t.co/sE9Nnhvegm
— Matthew Winick (@matthewwinick) April 30, 2026
College basketball analyst Mike Rutherford also made the Ndiaye comparison by posting an image of the 7-foot-6 center’s time with UC Irvine from a March Madness game against Louisville.
https://t.co/KO3gmfNG3v pic.twitter.com/sSOjC3K1HH
— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) April 30, 2026
The center averaged 1.5 minutes per game for Florida last season and scored 7 points, including a dunk in the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m not sure there’s a single coach in the country that I’d trust more with a player of gargantuan size than Russell Turner,” another influencer wrote.
I’m not sure there’s a single coach in the country that I’d trust more with a player of gargantuan size than Russell Turner. https://t.co/DFz2ulPx5w
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) April 30, 2026
There were also some hilarious comments about the height of college basketball’s tallest player of all time.
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“And it will only take him 4 steps to be on campus,” Jake Crain of On3 joked.
It will be interesting to see how Rioux fares at UC Irvine. Despite his lack of playing time in Florida, he has shown glimpses of his potential with the Canadian national team at the youth level.
