Robbie Avila
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Saint Louis Billikens | |
---|---|
Position | Center |
League | Atlantic 10 Conference |
Personal information | |
Born | Oak Forest, Illinois, U.S. | September 10, 2003
Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Oak Forest (Oak Forest, Illinois) |
College |
|
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
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.
High school career[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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]
On April 20, 2024, Avila announced his decision to transfer to Saint Louis, following his former Sycamores head coach Josh Schertz.[14][15]
Personal life[edit]
Due to similarities in the playstyles of Avila and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, Avila has been nicknamed the "College Jokić".[16][17] He has also been nicknamed "Cream Abdul-Jabbar", after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (bestowed by Kentucky Wildcats talk radio host Matt Jones),[18] "Larry Nerd", "Larry Blurred", "Steph Blurry", “Milk Chamberlain”,and "Rob Wave" by fans, teammates, and users on Twitter, due to wearing protective goggles.[19][20][21] Avila is of Mexican descent through his father.[22]
Career statistics[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Golden, Todd Aaron (2021-10-23). "New ISU basketball commit Avila keeps Chicago pipeline flowing". Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
- ^ "'It's An Amazing Feeling': Oak Forest's Avila Gives Back To School". Oak Forest, IL Patch. 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
- ^ Tribune-Star, Hunter Tickel | (2023-10-19). "ISU to lean on seasoned sophomore Avila". Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
- ^ Press, Associated (2023-11-22). "Robbie Avila's 27 lead Indiana State over Rice 103-88". Indianapolis News. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
- ^ "'The College Jokic.' Indiana State's goggles-wearing Robbie Avila an unexpected hoops star". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
- ^ "Avila, Barnes earn conference player of the week honors". Herald Bulletin. 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ Tickel, Hunter (2024-02-28). "Avila activated: Forward picks apart Aces in painted area". Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ "Robbie Avila scores career-high 35 points, Indiana State knocks off Evansville". WRTV Indianapolis. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
- ^ "Indiana State's Robbie Avila consoled by Seton Hall's Shaheen Holloway after NIT championship loss". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ "Indiana State star Robbie Avila enters transfer portal". TSN. 2024-04-09. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "Robbie Avila following Josh Schertz, transferring to Saint Louis". wthr.com. 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ "Indiana St. star Avila follows coach to Saint Louis". ESPN.com. 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Who is the Indiana State basketball player with goggles? What you should know about Robbie Avila". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ Libit, Daniel (March 9, 2024). "Indiana State Working to Raise NIL Money to Keep Its Hoop Dream Alive". Sportico. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Diamond, Robert O’Connell and Jared. "Basketball's Newest Star Wears Rec Specs and Goes by 'Cream Abdul-Jabbar'". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ "Sycamore team enjoys all Robbie Avila's nicknames". WTHI-TV. 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ 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.