Overview
- Rioux, who announced the decision Thursday on Instagram and was welcomed by the school, committed to UC Irvine after two seasons at Florida.
- The change follows Florida’s frontcourt staying intact for 2026–27, with Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon returning and Rueben Chinyelu expected back after testing the NBA draft, which left few minutes for Rioux.
- The 7-foot-9 center played sparingly for the Gators, appearing in 11 games for roughly 16 total minutes and finishing with seven points, six rebounds and one assist.
- UC Irvine offers a clearer path to playing time under Russell Turner, whose program has developed giants such as 7-foot-6 Mamadou Ndiaye and just won the Big West regular-season title.
- A 20-year-old Canadian and former Guinness-recognized tallest teenager, Rioux redshirted during Florida’s 2025 national title run, entered the transfer portal on March 31, and remains the tallest player in college basketball history.