When you’re the tallest college basketball player in the country, you’re bound to get attention from everyone who sees you.
Moments after 7-foot-9 UC Irvine center Olivier Rioux threw out the first pitch at Angel Stadium, he was joined by Los Angeles Angels team reporter Erica Weston, who asked him, “Who’s the most famous person he’s ever taken a photo with?”
“I think Shaquille O’Neal and Mr. Beast,” Olivier told Weston. “Shaquille O’Neal, I met him a couple of times, because he’s a DJ, and I went to his concert and he saw me.”
Olivier explained that O’Neal was great to meet and that the three-time NBA Finals MVP gave him some “hip tips.”
The legendary Lakers center was a master of using leverage and body position to get closer to the basket. Certainly not a bad person to pick up some tips from.
Before the Angels’ 5-1 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night, multiple members of the Angels organization were seen taking photos with him, including three-time American League MVP Mike Trout.
Weston revealed that Trout was left with a big smile on his face after meeting Rioux.
The 7-foot-9 center is about to begin his first season at UCI after transferring over from Florida.
The 7-foot-9 center is about to begin his first season at UCI after transferring over from Florida.
With the Gators last season, he appeared in 11 games but saw little playing time, averaging 1.5 minutes per game.
Now with a new home, he’ll look to see more playing time with the Anteaters.
UCI has not been shy about playing larger-sized centers, as Mamadou Ndiaye saw regular time for the team from 2013-2016.
Standing at 7-foot-6, Ndiaye appeared in 86 games while starting in 81, averaging 10.2 points and 2.5 blocks per game.
Given Rioux’s size, it’s only natural that he told Weston he enjoys watching San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
“I like that he plays through adversity and everyone tackling him… and me speaking French from Quebec, and him speaking French from France, I think is going to be a nice person to meet.”
