IRVINE, Calif. — The world's tallest college basketball player is going coast to coast. Former Florida walk-on Olivier Rioux , a 7-foot-9 center from Canada and one of the most recognizable student-athletes in North America, announced Thursday he has signed with UC Irvine. The school in Southern California announced his arrival hours earlier. "Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community," UC Irvine coach Russell Turner said in a