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The world's tallest basketball player is hitting the transfer portal.
Florida center Olivier Rioux announced his intentions on Tuesday morning. The 7-foot-9 towering big man would be an interesting addition to any team. He puts his name in the mix before the portal officially opens April 7.
Here are three possible fits for Rioux as he finds his next home.
Purdue Boilermakers
Matt Painter has never shied away from having some of the tallest players on the roster. In recent years, "Big Man U," prioritized elite height with 7-foot-4 center Daniel Jacobsen, following in the footsteps of 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and 7-foot-3 Isaac Haas. While there isn't a tie to the Big Ten contender, there's no coach in the country who knows how to use the five position like Painter. Rioux would be able to get significant playing time.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
One of Rioux's offers coming out of IMG Academy two years was Nebraska. In fact, it was his biggest one outside of Florida. With the Huskers finding success, could there be a push to have the big man in Lincoln?
Duke Blue Devils
One underrated spot for Rioux is in Durham with Jon Scheyer's team. Duke Basketball’s top-ranked defense is built on strong rim protection in the "no middle" defense. Keeping a big near the basket would allow a rotation on the perimeter to stall possessions. Duke great Bobby Hurley's nephew, TJ, was a Team Canada U19 teammate of Rioux's.
Rioux has a ton of upside at his next stop
The big man redshirted during Florida’s 2024-25 national championship season and has been used sparingly by Todd Golden. This gives Rioux the opportunity to contribute more with a better opportunity. Like any player over 7-foot-2, injury concerns run high.
The portal will close April 21 as part of the NCAA’s new 15-day transfer window. While players must enter during that span, they are not required to commit to a new program by the deadline.
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