Robbie Avila is one of the most fun players to watch in college basketball. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound center knows that he doesn't look like a star, and he uses that to his advantage.
"Sometimes, I'll go ahead and make a move and the other opponent will be like, 'Nice move, I did not expect that,'" Avila told me in 2024. "I have moves here and there. I surprise my coaches even sometimes with some of the things I do."
Avila is a social media darling who has earned some of the best nicknames in college basketball, including Cream Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Nerd. He's more than just a novelty, though. He's the best player on No. 9 seed Saint Louis and the engine that makes their offense hum. He has said that Nikola Jokic is his favorite player, and there are shades of that play style in his game.
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"He's definitely someone I look after," Avila told SN. "Jokic is a big man that can play both inside and outside, and his ability to create is something I try to model after him."
There's no doubt that Avila is a terrific college player. Can he make it at the next level? Here's an evaluation of his game through an NBA lens as the Billikens prepare to play No. 8 Georgia on Thursday night.
MORE:Why did Robbie Avila transfer to Saint Louis?
Robbie Avila stats
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Robbie Avila strengths
Avila is an extremely high-feel player. He knows the game inside and out, and he is excellent at carving out space to get to his shots.
Robbie Avila is a movement savant within Josh Schertz's system.
1. Zipper -> Middle BS with Exit. Watch Robbie lift his throwback to stretch the tag man in drop.
2. Pin Pop -> Touch Slip -> Kick. Weird lift for 3, loses his man.
3. Quick Flare -> Stampede. Footwork ... pic.twitter.com/VmiqoJgx0N
— Thibaut Tagnon (@TagnonThibaut) January 5, 2025
Avila has gone from a good shooter at the start of his college career to a great one this season. He's hit 41.6 percent of his 3's on a very solid 4.5 attempts per game. He is much, much more than just a shooter though.
Avila is one of the most versatile scorers at the college level. In addition to being a deadeye marksman, he is a beast in the low post. He has good size, and he knows how to use it to get to the rim. The Billikens will throw it to him down low and let him go to work a few times every game.
More often, Avila is used as a traditional roll man. He is an excellent finisher, shooting 55 percent on those play types per Synergy Sports. He can thunder his way to layups or pop for 3's.
What makes Avila an interesting big man is that he can also play as a ball-handler on pick-and-rolls, bringing the ball up in a point center type of role. When defenses try to duck under screens, he can pull up for 3.
We haven't even gotten to the most fun part of Avila's game, which is his passing. He has outstanding vision for a big man. He's used as a hub in a great Saint Louis five-out offense. He is great at finding cutters with the middle of the floor open and will throw some audacious assists. He is the best pocket passer in college basketball, bouncing the ball through windows only he sees.
Avila is a terrific offensive big man. Even though his size will be less of an advantage as a pro, he has so much skill and smarts that he will be a great passer and scorer wherever he ends up next.
MORE:The many nicknames of Indiana State's Robbie Avila
Robbie Avila weaknesses
If Avila were a decent athlete, he'd be an easy first round pick. But the tools that he is working with are not great, and that makes him a tough fit at the next level.
"My athleticism is going to hurt me a little bit. I'm going to be able to use my strength to hide that. But not being able to jump as high or move as quick, I have to work on that," he told The Sporting News.
It takes about 10 seconds to realize that Avila doesn't have the speed that is associated with NBA players. He also isn't much of a leaper. Despite being 6-10, he has zero dunks on the year. He uses craft and great touch rather than athleticism near the basket.
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One popular measure of athleticism is to look at steal and block rates. Scouts look for numbers above 2.5 percent as a signal that a player has the pop to make it in the NBA. Avila's steal rate (1.3 percent) and block rate (2.2 percent) both fall below those thresholds.
Avila isn't a great rim protector or very mobile. It's tough to envision him ever being the anchor of a good NBA defense, which is what teams look for from their centers.
Avila also has a role tailor-made for him in Josh Schertz' offense. Saint Louis has been excellent on that end of the floor. They try to play fast, getting Avila early 3's before defenses are set. They run a ton of their sets through Avila, letting him control decision-making.
What happens when he's not the guy on an NBA team? He has the shooting to play off the ball, but he might not get as many chances to leverage his high-level passing skills in the NBA.
Robbie Avila NBA Mock Draft projection
Mock Draft projection: Undrafted free agent
Avila is a college star, but his physical profile makes him a poor draft prospect for the NBA. His offensive skill and feel will translate. Can his defense ever get to the point where he can stay on the floor?
Avila has maxed out his ability at the college level. His brain is his best asset, and unfortunately he can't do much to change the lack of speed that he was born with.
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Avila should get a chance to latch onto a team through a two-way. He will surely get a summer league invite when he does leave college, and he will probably dominate that league.
It's going to take a perfect situation for him where he can play alongside very good defensive players and be used as a passing hub once again for him to find an NBA home.
Robbie Avila NBA player comparison
Plays like: The older version of Kevin Love
Love has been able to stay in the NBA even at age 37 because of how highly skilled he is as a shooter and passer. He doesn't play a ton of minutes due to his defensive limitations, but he can still go out there and hit a few 3's in a bench role.
That is probably the job that Avila will have. He can create some offense off the bench for teams and try to guard against less-talented second units.