In the world of college basketball, Saint Louis Billikens center Robbie Avila stands out-not just for his towering 6-foot-10 frame and signature black-rimmed goggles, but for his dynamic presence on the court. Avila first grabbed headlines two years ago when he led the Indiana State Sycamores to an impressive 32-7 season, narrowly missing an NCAA bid. His Indiana State days earned him playful nicknames like “Larry Nerd” and “Larry Blurred,” nods to the legendary Larry Bird.
Ahead of the Billikens' NCAA Tournament clash with the No. 8-seeded Georgia Bulldogs, Avila shared some insights with TMZ Sports. When asked about his favorite nickname, Avila picked “Cream Abdul-Jabbar,” a clever twist that he finds particularly amusing. “It’s hilarious, I love it,” he said, appreciating the creativity behind it.
Avila didn’t stop there-he also gave a nod to other inventive monikers like “Steph Blurry,” “Milk Chamberlain,” and the fresh “LeBron Frames.”
After the 2023-24 season, Avila made the move from Indiana State to Saint Louis, following head coach Josh Schertz. As a senior with the Billikens, Avila averages 12.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. While these stats show a dip from his previous averages of 17.4 points and 6.6 rebounds at Indiana State, and 17.3 points and 6.9 rebounds last year at Saint Louis, there’s more to the story.
Coach Schertz attributes this change to Avila’s selfless play and the depth of talent on the Billikens roster. “Everything he sacrificed, he sacrificed money, sacrificed playing time,” Schertz noted.
“He sets an unbelievable tenor for our whole program. His sense of humor, his humility, his team orientation, the kind of competitor he is, the way he cares about people.
His compassion.”
The Billikens, boasting a 28-5 record, are set to face Georgia (22-10) at 9:45 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on Avila and his unique blend of skill, personality, and leadership.