Saint Louis junior center Robbie Avila has earned a spot on the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award preseason Watch List, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame today. This honor is one of several national recognitions Avila has received this preseason, including a recent inclusion on the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List.
Avila joins Saint Louis for his first season after two impressive years at Indiana State, where he played under new SLU head coach Josh Schertz. Last season, Avila was instrumental in leading the Sycamores to the MVC regular-season title and an NIT championship game appearance. He was named a 2024 Lou Henson All-America and a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection.
During his sophomore year, Avila averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game for Indiana State, shooting an impressive 53.6 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three, with 61 made 3-pointers. Across his two seasons, he accumulated 1,007 points over 71 games.
Avila and the Billikens will begin their season against Santa Clara on Monday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. (CT) at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The game, part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase, will be streamed live on the Field of 68’s social media platforms, including YouTube and X.
This season marks a new chapter for the Billikens under Coach Josh Schertz, who joins SLU after a successful run at Indiana State, where he led the Sycamores to a 30-win season, the MVC title, and an NIT championship appearance. Schertz, taking over from Travis Ford, brings both a winning pedigree and a vision to rejuvenate the Billikens’ program. He has brought key players like Avila and Isaiah Swope to SLU, aiming to elevate the team back to NCAA Tournament contention after a hiatus since 2019.
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