Robbie Avila

Robbie Avila
Avila with Indiana State in 2024
No. 21 – Saint Louis Billikens
PositionCenter
LeagueAtlantic 10 Conference
Personal information
Born (2003-09-10) September 10, 2003 (age 21)
Oak Forest, Illinois, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High schoolOak Forest
(Oak Forest, Illinois)
College
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-MVC (2024)
  • MVC All-Freshman team (2023)

Robbie Avila (born September 10, 2003) is an American college basketball player for the Saint Louis Billikens. He previously played for the Indiana State Sycamores of the Missouri Valley Conference.

High school career

Avila attended Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest, Illinois.[1][2] As a junior, Avila averaged 25.5 points and 11.5 rebounds.[3] In his final season as a senior, he averaged 23.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and two blocks, leading Oak Forest to a 25–8 record and becoming the school's all-time leading scorer.[4]

Recruiting

Avila was ranked as the sixth-best player in the state of Illinois and the 54th best power forward in the country according to 247Sports.[5] He committed to play college basketball at Indiana State University over offers from Appalachian State, Bradley, Loyola Chicago, Richmond, and Southern Illinois.[3]

College career

Indiana State

As a freshman, Avila averaged 10.7 points and four rebounds, being named to the MVC All-Freshman Team.[6] Avila began the next season averaging 16.5 points, 4.2 assists, and 6.6 rebounds through the first ten games of the season, including a 27-point, eight rebound, and eight assist performance against Rice in a 103–88 victory.[7][8] On January 24, 2024, he was named the conference player of the week after averaging 22 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists across a span of two games.[9] Avila scored a career-high 35 points in an 85–67 win over Evansville on February 28, 2024.[10][11] He finished his sophomore season averaging 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, helping lead Indiana State to a 32–7 record and an appearance in the NIT final.[12] On April 9, 2024, Avila announced he was entering the transfer portal.[13]

Saint Louis

On April 20, 2024, Avila announced his decision to transfer to Saint Louis, following his former Sycamores head coach Josh Schertz.[14][15]

On November 4, 2024, Avila was helped off the court during his team's season opener against Santa Clara University due to a right ankle injury. He drove to the rim and jumped to pass the ball but landed awkwardly and twisted his ankle.[16]

Personal life

Due to similarities in the playstyles of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, Avila has been nicknamed the "College Jokić".[17][18] He has also been nicknamed "Cream Abdul-Jabbar", after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (bestowed by Kentucky Wildcats talk radio host Matt Jones),[19] "Larry Nerd", "Larry Blurred", "Steph Blurry", “Milk Chamberlain”,and "Rob Wave" by fans, teammates, and users on Twitter, due to wearing protective goggles.[20][21][22] Avila is of Mexican descent through his father.[23]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Indiana State 34 29 21.3 .540 .337 .705 4.0 1.6 .7 .4 10.7
2023–24 Indiana State 37 37 31.2 .536 .394 .808 6.6 4.1 .7 .65 17.4

References

  1. ^ Terry, Jermont (2023-12-20). "Oak Forest grad uses his name, image, and likeness proceeds to give back - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  2. ^ "It's an all-around Robbie Avila. He shoots. He scores. But the Indiana State recruit also defends, rebounds and blocks shots for Oak Forest". Chicago Tribune. 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  3. ^ a b "'We know he's going to be Robbie': Avila enters senior year at Oak Forest with college recruitment heating up". Chicago Tribune. 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  4. ^ Golden, Todd Aaron (2021-10-23). "New ISU basketball commit Avila keeps Chicago pipeline flowing". Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  5. ^ "'It's An Amazing Feeling': Oak Forest's Avila Gives Back To School". Oak Forest, IL Patch. 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  6. ^ Tribune-Star, Hunter Tickel | (2023-10-19). "ISU to lean on seasoned sophomore Avila". Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  7. ^ "Robbie Avila's 27 lead Indiana State over Rice 103-88". Indianapolis News. Associated Press. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  8. ^ "'The College Jokic.' Indiana State's goggles-wearing Robbie Avila an unexpected hoops star". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  9. ^ "Avila, Barnes earn conference player of the week honors". Herald Bulletin. 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  10. ^ Tickel, Hunter (2024-02-28). "Avila activated: Forward picks apart Aces in painted area". Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  11. ^ "Robbie Avila scores career-high 35 points, Indiana State knocks off Evansville". WRTV Indianapolis. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  12. ^ "Indiana State's Robbie Avila consoled by Seton Hall's Shaheen Holloway after NIT championship loss". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  13. ^ "Indiana State star Robbie Avila enters transfer portal". TSN. 2024-04-09. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  14. ^ "Robbie Avila following Josh Schertz, transferring to Saint Louis". wthr.com. 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  15. ^ "Indiana St. star Avila follows coach to Saint Louis". ESPN.com. 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  16. ^ "SLU star Avila helped off late with ankle injury". ESPN.com. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  17. ^ Yusuf, Farouk (2024-01-24). ""I try to model after him": Indiana State center Robbie Avila makes bold comparisons with Nikola Jokic ahead of UIC clash". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  18. ^ "Who is the Indiana State basketball player with goggles? What you should know about Robbie Avila". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  19. ^ Libit, Daniel (March 9, 2024). "Indiana State Working to Raise NIL Money to Keep Its Hoop Dream Alive". Sportico. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  20. ^ Duncan, Kameron (2024-02-29). "'Cream Abdul-Jabbar' Is Everyone's Favorite College Basketball Player". The Spun: What's Trending In The Sports World Today. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  21. ^ Diamond, Robert O’Connell and Jared. "Basketball's Newest Star Wears Rec Specs and Goes by 'Cream Abdul-Jabbar'". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  22. ^ "Sycamore team enjoys all Robbie Avila's nicknames". WTHI-TV. 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  23. ^ Noh, Stephen (March 8, 2024). "Who is Robbie Avila? Meet Indiana State's 'Cream Abdul-Jabbar' who is going viral at Larry Bird's old school". The Sporting News. Retrieved April 4, 2024.