Robbie Avila

Avila attended Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest, Illinois.{{Cite web |last=Terry |first=Jermont |date=2023-12-20 |title=Oak Forest grad uses his name, image, and likeness proceeds to give back - CBS Chicago |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/oak-forest-grad-name-image-and-likeness-proceeds-give-back/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-12-01 |title=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. |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/sports/ct-sta-bbk-cm-oak-for-st-1203-20211202-b22s3dwnyrdddf3vtu336o4ure-story.html |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Chicago Tribune}} As a junior, Avila averaged 25.5 points and 11.5 rebounds.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-03 |title='We know he's going to be Robbie': Avila enters senior year at Oak Forest with college recruitment heating up |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/sports/ct-sta-bbk-of-avila-st-0804-20210803-tgqyse3ivnh75bbmjjhnbqtgze-story.html |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Chicago Tribune}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Golden |first=Todd Aaron |date=2021-10-23 |title=New ISU basketball commit Avila keeps Chicago pipeline flowing |url=https://www.tribstar.com/sports/local_college_sports/isu_sports/new-isu-basketball-commit-avila-keeps-chicago-pipeline-flowing/article_555bef29-89dd-571e-ac4a-3d5e78ea5a3d.html |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Terre Haute Tribune-Star |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-27 |title='It's An Amazing Feeling': Oak Forest's Avila Gives Back To School |url=https://patch.com/illinois/oakforest/its-amazing-feeling-oak-forests-avila-gives-back-school |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Oak Forest, IL Patch |language=en}} He committed to play college basketball at Indiana State University over offers from Appalachian State, Bradley, Loyola Chicago, Richmond, and Southern Illinois.

As a freshman, Avila averaged 10.7 points and four rebounds, being named to the MVC All-Freshman Team.{{Cite web |last=Tribune-Star |first=Hunter Tickel {{!}} |date=2023-10-19 |title=ISU to lean on seasoned sophomore Avila |url=https://www.tribstar.com/sports/player-profile-isu-to-lean-on-seasoned-sophomore-avila/article_8e7713ce-66ee-11ee-9ac1-d325b68570e2.html |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Terre Haute Tribune-Star |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2023-11-22 |title=Robbie Avila's 27 lead Indiana State over Rice 103-88 |url=https://www.wishtv.com/sports/college-basketball/robbie-avilas-27-lead-indiana-state-over-rice-103-88/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Indianapolis News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title='The College Jokic.' Indiana State's goggles-wearing Robbie Avila an unexpected hoops star |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/2023/12/26/meet-indiana-state-basketball-big-man-robbie-avila-goggles-unassuming-mid-major-star-college-jokic/71930473007/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-23 |title=Avila, Barnes earn conference player of the week honors |url=https://www.heraldbulletin.com/sports/national_sports/avila-barnes-earn-conference-player-of-the-week-honors/article_a6032d21-8554-5deb-a971-b6431d3a4850.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Herald Bulletin |language=en}} Avila scored a career-high 35 points in an 85–67 win over Evansville on February 28, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Tickel |first=Hunter |date=2024-02-28 |title=Avila activated: Forward picks apart Aces in painted area |url=https://www.tribstar.com/sports/avila-activated-forward-picks-apart-aces-in-painted-area/article_5172a0f6-ae79-11ee-8032-6f4df023f31d.html |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Terre Haute Tribune-Star |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=Robbie Avila scores career-high 35 points, Indiana State knocks off Evansville |url=https://www.wrtv.com/media/v/content/e50e87a761344ad783e21577bb1c7bb6 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=WRTV Indianapolis |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Indiana State's Robbie Avila consoled by Seton Hall's Shaheen Holloway after NIT championship loss |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/2024/04/05/robbie-avila-shaheen-holloway-indiana-state-nit-championship-seton-hall-basketball/73217111007/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}} On April 9, 2024, Avila announced he was entering the transfer portal.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-09 |title=Indiana State star Robbie Avila enters transfer portal |url=https://www.tsn.ca/ncaa/indiana-state-star-robbie-avila-enters-transfer-portal-1.2101587 |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=TSN |language=en-CA}}

On April 20, 2024, Avila announced his decision to transfer to Saint Louis, following his former Sycamores head coach Josh Schertz.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-20 |title=Robbie Avila following Josh Schertz, transferring to Saint Louis |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaab/robbie-avila-following-josh-schertz-transferring-from-indiana-state-isu-to-saint-louis-ncaam-college-basketball-hoops/531-a99fc333-166e-48e7-8413-e080e56ac924 |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=wthr.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-20 |title=Indiana St. star Avila follows coach to Saint Louis |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39983192/ex-indiana-state-star-robbie-avila-follows-coach-saint-louis |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

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.{{cite web |title=SLU star Avila helped off late with ankle injury |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/42195756/saint-louis-star-robbie-avila-suffers-apparent-ankle-injury-opener |website=ESPN.com |access-date=5 November 2024 |language=en |date=4 November 2024}}

Due to similarities in the playstyles of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, Avila has been nicknamed the "College Jokić".{{Cite web |last=Yusuf |first=Farouk |date=2024-01-24 |title="I try to model after him": Indiana State center Robbie Avila makes bold comparisons with Nikola Jokic ahead of UIC clash |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-basketball/news-i-try-model-him-indiana-state-center-robbie-avila-makes-bold-comparisons-nikola-jokic-ahead-uic-clash |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |title=Who is the Indiana State basketball player with goggles? What you should know about Robbie Avila |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/2024/02/13/indiana-state-robbie-avila-wears-goggles-has-game-like-nikola-jokic/72587732007/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}} He has also been nicknamed "Cream Abdul-Jabbar", after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (bestowed by Kentucky Wildcats talk radio host Matt Jones),{{cite web |url=https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2024/indiana-state-robbie-avila-josh-schertz-1234770019/ |title=Indiana State Working to Raise NIL Money to Keep Its Hoop Dream Alive |first=Daniel |last=Libit |work=Sportico |date=March 9, 2024 |access-date=March 9, 2024}} "Larry Nerd", "Larry Blurred", "Steph Blurry", “Milk Chamberlain”,and "Rob Wave" by fans, teammates, and users on Twitter, due to wearing protective goggles.{{Cite web |last=Duncan |first=Kameron |date=2024-02-29 |title='Cream Abdul-Jabbar' Is Everyone's Favorite College Basketball Player |url=https://thespun.com/college-hoops/cream-abdul-jabbar-is-everyones-favorite-college-basketball-player |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=The Spun: What's Trending In The Sports World Today |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Diamond |first=Robert O’Connell and Jared |title=Basketball’s Newest Star Wears Rec Specs and Goes by ‘Cream Abdul-Jabbar’ |url=https://www.wsj.com/sports/basketball/robbie-avila-indiana-state-cream-abdul-jabbar-7a703110 |access-date=2024-03-09 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-08 |title=Sycamore team enjoys all Robbie Avila's nicknames |url=https://www.wthitv.com/sports/sycamore-team-enjoys-all-robbie-avilas-nicknames/article_471a2f68-dd02-11ee-a317-bbccc1e3cfb1.html |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=WTHI-TV |language=en}} Avila is of Mexican descent through his father.{{cite news|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/robbie-avila-college-jokic-indiana-state/ec5d4c6aa196e0b75a646b23|title= Who is Robbie Avila? Meet Indiana State's 'Cream Abdul-Jabbar' who is going viral at Larry Bird's old school|work=The Sporting News|first=Stephen|last=Noh|date=March 8, 2024|access-date=April 4, 2024}}

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana State

| 34 || 29 || 21.3 || .540 || .337 || .705 || 4.0 || 1.6 || .7 || .4 || 10.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana State

| 37 || 37 || 31.2 || .536 || .394 || .808 || 6.6 || 4.1 || .7 || .6 || 17.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2024–25

| style="text-align:left;"| Saint Louis

| 31 || 31 || 34.0 || .492 || .359 || .750 || 6.9 || 4.0 || 1.2 || .8 || 17.3

|-

{{S-end}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://gosycamores.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/robbie-avila/7641 Indiana State Sycamores bio]
• [https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/robbie-avila/12601 Saint Louis Billikens bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Avila, Robbie}}

Category:2003 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:American sportspeople of Mexican descent

Category:Basketball players from Cook County, Illinois

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball players

Category:People from Oak Forest, Illinois

Category:Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball players