In browsing ESPN+ for a game to watch tonight, I found that Florida plays Jacksonville. According to Florida's official roster, Oliver Rioux is listed at 7'9" and 305 pounds! Can this be true? Is it possible for a human being to be that big? Shaq was what, 7''1" and considered a giant. But Shaq is small compared to Rioux. I will watch on SEC+ to see if this monster is for real. Has anyone ever been measured that tall before?
Florida has a freshman 7'9" tall?
- Thread starter ptril
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Yeah he is the largest teen In the world I believe. I’ve seen him play for IMG academy. He’s super slow. Zach Edey he is not, at least not yet.
Uh, no he was not, not ever. 7'1" in his playing prime.
Robert Wadlow, from Alton, Illinois was 8’11”
I worked on a towboat in the 1980’s and made a stop in Alton and learned all about Wadlow.
Weird tidbit I’ll keep for a lifetime.
Yeah they got a 7-9 guy that's supposed to be able to move and play.
Idk...
How the hell they got him down there I don't know. Let's just hope it don't turn into Zack Edey. Cuz nobody will be able to deal with that type of attitude from somebody 7'9".
Edey became an angry giant through all those games at Purdue. Dude has mean attitude on the court nowadays.
Idk...
How the hell they got him down there I don't know. Let's just hope it don't turn into Zack Edey. Cuz nobody will be able to deal with that type of attitude from somebody 7'9".
Edey became an angry giant through all those games at Purdue. Dude has mean attitude on the court nowadays.
I remember him from the Guinness book of world records that I would buy every year of my youth from Scholastic Books.
Rioux is in the Guinness book as the world's tallest teenager. Definitely a "project" as far as basketball skills.
apnews.com
At 7 feet, 9 inches, Olivier Rioux is the world’s tallest teen and an intriguing basketball project
Florida freshman Olivier Rioux is the world's tallest teenager. The 7-foot-9 walk-on center also is an intriguing basketball prospect.
apnews.com
I learned about him at Guinness World Records in Gatlinburg. They have a huge statue of him.
And those fat twins on the tiny cycles.
Forgotten them, but that pic instantly and very vividly came back to me when I read this.
He's not expected to play much this year. He's a project. Super slow, but actually has some skills. Could be a contributor in a couple of years if he's able to build strength.
I have relatives in Alton and during the depression my Dad worked in Alton. He talked about meeting Robert Wadlow, I think his dad was Mayor. He died in 1939 from complicationsvfrom a toe infection, if I remember correctly.
Shaq was a ripped, physical specimen who was VERY athletic. Look at him before he got heavier. A truly unstoppable force. Nothing at all like these tall, uncoordinated bigs who grow into their bodies.
This Florida freshman is far behind where Edey was at the same age, but in 2-3 years, he might be dominant. Time will tell.
This Florida freshman is far behind where Edey was at the same age, but in 2-3 years, he might be dominant. Time will tell.
Benny and Billy McGuire if memory serves.
I loved those books.
Guy at Florida is EXTREMELY raw. It will take him at least 2 years to even be of any benefit.
But bottom line he’s 7’9” and that can’t be taught.
But bottom line he’s 7’9” and that can’t be taught.
He's been tall his entire life so he hasn't had to "compete" against guys much smaller than him. He played on the Canadian National team and his stats were not impressive at all. He may become a quality player but it will be several years from now. He would really benefit from a RS this year.
They came so close to knocking off Zion and duke in 2019. That was a great game.
What’s astounding is that although Wadlow has a fairly slender build, he weighed 495 at 8’11”
George Will on stilts.
I wish I could find the picture to link but there was one in the 1972 GBofWRs of Robert standing with his father and a brother when he was around 8’5” or so. The caption read “Robert is the one in the middle”
