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Who are the tallest college basketball players in Div. I history?

At 7-foot-9, Olivier Rioux is the tallest college basketball player in D1 history. AP Photo/John Raoux

College basketball player Olivier Rioux debuted for the Florida Gators in November 2025 after redshirting his freshman year. In 2026, the 7-foot-9 center entered the transfer portal. He previously garnered a Guinness Book of World Records title as the World's Tallest Teenager. Originally from Montreal, Rioux cemented his high school basketball legacy at IMG Academy in Florida.

Rioux is in good company with other college basketball players 7-4 and above:

7-7

  • Kenny George, 2006-2008, UNC Asheville

  • Mike Lanier, 1988-1993, Hardin-Simmons/UCLA

7-6

  • John Hollinden, 1976-1978, Oral Roberts

  • Mamadou Ndiaye, 2013-2016, UC Irvine

  • Neil Fingleton, 2001-2004, Holy Cross/North Carolina

  • Shawn Bradley, 1990-1991, Brigham Young

  • Tacko Fall, 2015-2019, UCF

7-5

  • Trent Burns, 2025-present, Missouri

  • Chuck Nevitt, 1978-1982, NC State

  • Connor Vanover, 2018-2024, Cal/Arkansas/Oral Roberts/Missouri

  • Greg Ritter, 1989-1991, Portland

  • Jamarion Sharp, 2021-2024, Ole Miss/Western Kentucky

  • Sim Bhullar, 2012-2014, New Mexico State

  • Will Foster, 2006-2010, Gonzaga

7-4

  • Alan Bannister, 1985-1990, Arkansas State/Oklahoma State

  • Blake Vedder, 2010-2015, Kent State/Rhode Island

  • Chase Metheney, 1995-1998, Virginia

  • Christ Koumadje, 2015-2019, Florida State

  • Daniel Jacobsen, 2024-present, Purdue

  • Jakub Kusmieruk, 2008-2013, Idaho State/UCF

  • Lonnie Boeckman, 1973-1977, Oklahoma State

  • Mark Eaton, 1980-1982, UCLA

  • Matt Van Komen, 2019-2021, St. Mary's (CA)/Utah

  • Naheem McLeod, 2021-2025, Florida State/Syracuse

  • Ralph Sampson, 1979-1983, Virginia

  • Rik Smits, 1984-1988, Marist

  • Riley Sorn, 2019-2022, Washington

  • Rolf Mayr, 1987-1988, Duquesne

  • Steve Turner, 1969-1973, Vanderbilt

  • Zach Edey, 2020-2024, Purdue

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