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Robbie Avila Enters NCAA Transfer Portal
Robbie Avila, the standout player from Indiana State, has made the decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal after an impressive 2023-24 college basketball season. As a 6-foot-10 sophomore center, Avila showcased his skills by averaging 17.4 points and 4.1 assists per game, a performance that earned him first-team All-Missouri Valley honors. His impact on the court, coupled with his unique personality, has solidified his status as one of the rising stars in collegiate basketball.
Throughout the season, Avila captivated fans with his distinctive goggles and his association with Larry Bird’s alma mater, which led to affectionate nicknames such as “Cream Abdul-Jabbar,” “Larry Nerd,” and “Steph Blurry.” Sources familiar with the situation have revealed that Avila is strongly considering joining former Indiana State coach Josh Schertz at Saint Louis University. Schertz recently assumed the head coaching position at Saint Louis following Indiana State’s remarkable run to the NIT Finals and the Missouri Valley regular-season title.
The portal status of Avila is indicated by a red exclamation point, signaling that he has already made his decision and is not open to recruitment. Indiana State, despite achieving an impressive 32-7 record last season, narrowly missed out on an NCAA tournament berth. However, the team’s exceptional performance in the NIT, where they defeated prominent teams like SMU, Minnesota, Cincinnati, and Utah before succumbing to Seton Hall in the championship game, garnered widespread recognition.
In a surprising turn of events, Avila is part of a group of eight Indiana State basketball players who have entered the transfer portal in recent days, including the team’s top five scorers. Among them are guard Ryan Conwell (16.6 PPG), guard Isaiah Swope (15.9 PPG), guard Jayson Kent (13.5 PPG), and guard Julian Larry (11.0 PPG). Speculation suggests that several of these players may follow Schertz to Saint Louis, although none have indicated a preference to avoid contact.
Avila’s Influence on the Game
Hailing from Lake Forest, Illinois, Avila possesses a remarkable basketball IQ and a natural finesse for the sport. His exceptional passing skills contribute significantly to the fluidity of Schertz’s offensive strategies, which are renowned for their efficiency and aesthetic appeal. Indiana State’s impressive statistics, ranking first in college basketball for effective field goal percentage (59.8%) and two-point percentage (62.4%), underscore Avila’s substantial impact on the team’s success.
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