TCU’s newest addition comes with a nickname, a reputation and a clear fit.
The Horned Frogs officially announced Thursday that they had signed Saint Louis transfer center Robbie Avila, a move that gives Jamie Dixon’s team one of the most recognizable players in college basketball. Avila, the reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, built his profile at Saint Louis and Indiana State with his goggles, his skill set and the kind of style that earned him labels like “Cream Abdul-Jabbar” and “Milk Chamberlain.”
Avila’s path to Fort Worth took a sharp turn in recent days. His eligibility had expired after last season, though he went undrafted and later appeared for the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Summer League. New NCAA rules that allow players to have five seasons of eligibility opened the door for him to keep playing, and last week he was granted a preliminary injunction for another year.
The original plan was to go back to Saint Louis, but that fell apart because of roster limits. TCU stepped in once the situation changed.
“It was really after the [College Spots Commission] thing came out, we tried to give, we gave it our all, but it couldn’t work out over there at SLU,” Avila told the Star-Telegram in a one-on-one phone interview Thursday. “So we quickly pivoted and tried to find somewhere that would best fit me and would best fit a team.
TCU was that. I jumped on it right away.”
The timing lined up for the Horned Frogs, too. The College Sports Commission announced last Friday that it was denying Saint Louis’ request to add a 16th player to its roster.
Around the same time, TCU learned it would be without junior center Luke Bamgboye for an extended period after the 6-foot-10 Texas Tech transfer suffered a lower body injury. Bamgboye has missed the past two games, and Dixon said Tuesday after TCU’s double-overtime win over Louisiana-Monroe that he would be out for a while.
That left TCU looking for size, and Avila looking for a home.
At 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, Avila brings more than just body type to the roster. He averaged 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists last season at Saint Louis, and he described the way he can stretch and facilitate from the frontcourt.
“I think I can bring a little bit of versatility from the big man spot,” Avila said. “I’m able to shoot it.
[I have] playmaking. I’m just gonna try to and do my best to make everybody’s else job easier just like they’re going to do for me.”
That versatility is what made him such a different kind of big man at Indiana State and Saint Louis, where he functioned as an offensive hub in the mold of Nikola Jokić and Domantas Sabonis. For TCU, that could mean a new layer offensively, whether he’s sharing creation duties with Brock Harding or guard Trent Lincoln. He also looks like a natural fit next to Xavier Edmonds, with both big men capable of working inside and out.
Avila believes the fan base will appreciate what he brings.
“I think [I’m] just somebody who’s gonna do whatever it takes to win,” Avila said. “The versatility I bring, hopefully there will be a lot of excitement and some good times.”
TCU already lists 15 players on its roster, and according to a source within the program, the school did not need to open up an official roster spot for Avila. The fit was about more than numbers, though. Dixon’s history with developing big men, including Edmonds, played a role in the decision.
“I had the pleasure to talk to him before making the decision,” Avila said. “Just seeing some of the guys that he’s got into the NCA and the success he’s had over the years in college. I definitely wanted to be a part of that and hope to be able to continue that this year.”
Avila is already enrolled in Fort Worth and will start classes Friday, though he is not expected to be available for TCU’s home game against Milwaukee at 7 p.m. Friday.
The move gives the Horned Frogs a frontcourt boost at a time when they need it, and it gives Avila a chance to jump into the Big 12, which he called a proving ground.
“It’s definitely exciting being able to play against some of the best teams and best players in the country,” Avila said. “I’m looking forward to competing. The competitor in me wants to play the best, and the Big 12 obviously has that.”
There will be an adjustment period before he gets on the floor, but the logic is easy to see. TCU needed a center.
Avila needed a place to play. And when he does suit up, fans will have one more nickname to choose from.
“Cream Abdul-Jabbar is the most creative one, but my favorite one I try to get out there is Rob Wave,” Avila said. “That’s always gonna be my number one.”
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