Tallest Players in College Basketball (2026-27)

The following post explores the Tallest Players in College Basketball (2026-27).

The presence of an exceptionally tall player can affect what happens around the basket, from rebounding and blocked shots to interior scoring and shot selection.

Read: Why Winning on College Basketball Is Hard

Related: Best Three-Point Shooters in College Basketball

It can also force opposing teams to adjust how they attack the paint. For bettors researching a matchup, knowing which teams have the biggest players on the floor is information worth having.

So, who are the tallest players in college basketball in 2026-27? Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

Size is one of the physical factors that can influence how a team plays, particularly around the basket. An elite big man can affect rebounding, rim protection, shot selection and the way opponents attack the paint.

Below is our updated look at the tallest players in Division I college basketball heading into the 2026-27 season. The list is updated annually to reflect current rosters, transfers and new arrivals, making it a useful reference for college basketball bettors throughout the season.

1. Olivier Rioux — 7’9″ — UC Irvine Anteaters

At 7’9″, Olivier Rioux is in a category of his own. The Canadian center is listed at 7’9″ and 305 pounds on UC Irvine’s 2026-27 roster, making him the tallest player in Division I heading into the season. Rioux’s extraordinary stature has made him a familiar name to basketball fans well beyond the college game. Before arriving in the NCAA, he was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest teenager.

Rioux originally committed to Florida and spent time with the Gators before transferring to UC Irvine. His college career has included limited playing time, but his physical dimensions remain extraordinary even by basketball standards. At UC Irvine, he joins a program coached by Russell Turner, who previously coached 7’6″ center Mamadou Ndiaye. Rioux’s challenge will be translating his unusual size into consistent production while continuing to develop his mobility, conditioning and overall game.

2. Trent Burns — 7’5″ — Missouri Tigers

Missouri center Trent Burns is listed at 7’5″ and 260 pounds, making him the second-tallest player on a 2026-27 Division I roster. The Cypress, Texas, native entered college with obvious physical tools but has had to navigate injuries during the early stages of his career.

Burns missed his true freshman season with a foot injury before beginning to work his way into Missouri’s rotation. He has shown potential as a rebounder and rim protector and gives the Tigers an unusual defensive presence simply because of his combination of height and reach. With additional development in strength, footwork and offensive skill, Burns has an opportunity to become more than a novelty at the college level.

3. Daniel Jacobsen — 7’4″ — Purdue Boilermakers

Purdue’s Daniel Jacobsen enters the 2026-27 season listed at 7’4″ and 250 pounds. The Chicago native joined the Boilermakers as one of the tallest players in college basketball and has gradually worked his way back from an injury that limited his freshman season.

Jacobsen’s size makes him a natural shot-blocking presence, but his game is not limited to standing around the basket. He has demonstrated the ability to finish around the rim and has also shown a willingness to step outside and shoot. As he becomes stronger and more comfortable playing extended minutes, Jacobsen could take on a larger role for Purdue. His combination of extreme height and developing offensive versatility makes him one of the more interesting players on this list.

4. Luigi Suigo — 7’3″ — Villanova Wildcats

Luigi Suigo is one of the most intriguing newcomers in college basketball. The Italian center is listed at 7’3″ and 289 pounds on Villanova’s 2026-27 roster, giving the Wildcats an enormous interior presence as they enter the new season.

Suigo spent the 2025-26 season playing professionally for BC Mega Basket in Serbia, averaging 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26 Adriatic League games. His experience overseas gives him a different background from many American college freshmen, and he has been described as a player with skills that extend beyond the paint. His passing ability, shooting touch and size give Villanova an unusual combination to work with as he transitions to college basketball.

5. Motiejus Krivas — 7’2″ — Arizona Wildcats

Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas is one of the most accomplished players among the tallest centers in college basketball. The Lithuanian big man returns to the Wildcats for the 2026-27 season after a productive junior campaign in which he established himself as one of the Big 12’s better interior players.

Krivas averaged 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in 2025-26 while appearing in all 39 games during Arizona’s run to the Final Four. He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team. His value comes from more than just his 7’2″ frame. Krivas has the size to battle for rebounds, protect the rim and finish around the basket, while his experience gives Arizona one of the more established big men among the players on this list.

6. Zvonimir Ivisic — 7’2″ — Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois has one of the tallest and most unusual frontcourts in college basketball, and Zvonimir Ivisic is a major part of it. The Croatian forward/center is listed at 7’2″ and 250 pounds and returns to Champaign for the 2026-27 season.

Ivisic has developed a reputation as a modern big man whose skill set extends beyond the traditional center position. His height gives him obvious advantages around the basket, while his ability to shoot from the perimeter creates additional possibilities offensively. He is also part of a unique family situation at Illinois: his twin brother, Tomislav Ivisic, is listed at 7’1″ and also returns to the Fighting Illini. Having two seven-footers who can contribute in different ways gives Illinois considerable frontcourt size and versatility.

7. Christian Reeves — 7’2″ — Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas added another towering presence to its frontcourt with the addition of Christian Reeves. The fifth-year center is listed at 7’2″ and 260 pounds and joins the Jayhawks after spending the 2025-26 season at College of Charleston. Reeves previously played at Duke.

Reeves brings several years of college basketball experience to Lawrence and has developed into a physical interior player. His size gives Kansas another option for defending the paint, controlling the defensive glass and finishing close to the basket. He also joins a Kansas roster that already features significant frontcourt size, giving head coach Bill Self another large-bodied option as he builds his rotation for the 2026-27 season.

8. Moustapha Thiam — 7’2″ — Michigan Wolverines

Moustapha Thiam brings 7’2″ of size and considerable college experience to Michigan’s frontcourt. The Dakar, Senegal, native transferred to the Wolverines after spending the previous two seasons playing college basketball at UCF and Cincinnati.

Thiam started all 65 games he appeared in during those two seasons and established himself as a productive defensive presence. He recorded 88 blocks at UCF before adding another 50 at Cincinnati, while also contributing on the glass. That experience is particularly valuable for a player his size because Thiam has already spent significant time competing against high-level college athletes rather than simply entering the season as a developmental seven-footer. Michigan will look to his size and defensive ability as it integrates him into its 2026-27 frontcourt.

9. Dorin Buca — 7’2″ — Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers added another massive center when Dorin Buca transferred from Kansas State. Buca is listed at 7’2″ and 286 pounds, giving the Scarlet Knights one of the biggest players in the Big Ten.

Buca appeared in 27 games for Kansas State during the 2025-26 season, averaging 3.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Although his offensive numbers were modest, his size and shot-blocking ability give him a natural defensive role. Buca also brings international experience to Rutgers, and the 2026-27 season provides an opportunity for him to take on a larger role after beginning his college career in a more limited capacity.

10. Ivan Njegovan — 7’2″ — Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State center Ivan Njegovan rounds out the list at 7’2″ and 260 pounds. The junior returns after appearing in 30 games for the Buckeyes during the 2025-26 season.

Njegovan averaged 2.6 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 56.9% from the field and recording 12 blocked shots. His numbers reflect a developing player who has primarily contributed in a reserve role, but his physical dimensions give Ohio State a valuable option in the paint. At 7’2″, Njegovan can provide rebounding, interior defense and size that few opposing teams can match once he is on the floor.

Other 7’2″ Players to Know

The 7’2″ mark is unusually crowded in college basketball during the 2026-27 season. Several other players listed at the same height could have been included in a 10-player list, including Malick Kordel of Minnesota, Leo Curtis of Nebraska and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje of Duke.

Kordel is a 7’2″, 275-pound sophomore who transferred from Michigan to Minnesota after seeing limited action as a freshman. Curtis is a 7’2″, 254-pound sophomore returning to Nebraska after appearing in 17 games during the Cornhuskers’ 2025-26 Sweet 16 season. Duke freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje is also listed at 7’2″ and 250 pounds and arrives after playing in FC Barcelona’s youth system and representing the United States internationally.