Olivier Rioux is grabbing attention as the current tallest teenager on the planet according to the Guinness World Record Book. Standing at a towering 7-foot-6, the native of Canada hopes to become a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court.
Rioux took the floor for
IMG Academy Blue (Bradenton, Fla.) last week at the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers. In two games at the event, the junior played 22 minutes, scored three points and grabbed six rebounds. He's still a work in progress but his mobility is impressive.
Rioux could be charting a similar course to that of Zach Edey, a 7-4 center who also attended IMG Academy back in 2020. A candidate for the John Wooden Award (given to college basketball's most outstanding player), Edey is averaging 22.6 points and 13.9 rebounds per game for No. 1-ranked Purdue.
Last summer, Rioux represented Canada in the U17 World Cup in Spain, averaging 2.7 points and 4.7 rebounds while blocking 11 shots over seven games.
As might be expected, Rioux's family is also tall. His dad is 6-8, mom is 6-2 and he has a younger brother who is 6-9.
Olivier Rioux stretches for a dunk at the City of Palms Classic. (Photo: Pete Wright)
Olivier Rioux towers over the competition last week against Providence at the City of Palms Classic. (Photo: Pete Wright)
