St. Louis Star Robbie Avila Shines in March Madness Debut

The 6-foot-10 center with the distinctive look and multiple nicknames leads his team to a big win in the NCAA Tournament

Mar. 20, 2026 at 4:21am

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Robbie Avila, a 6-foot-10 center for Saint Louis University, has become a breakout star in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Known for his protective goggles, resemblance to Nikola Jokic, and nicknames like "Cream Abdul-Jabbar" and "College Jokic", Avila led his team to a dominant first-round win over Georgia with an impressive stat line.

Why it matters

Avila's performance has captured the attention of college basketball fans across the country, showcasing his unique combination of size, skill, and court vision. As a transfer from Indiana State, where he had already gone viral for his standout play, Avila is now poised to become one of the must-watch players of the NCAA Tournament.

The details

In the first-round game against Georgia, Avila was key to his team's 49-32 halftime lead, scoring 8 points on 3-of-4 shooting, grabbing 4 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists, and recording 1 block. For the season, the senior is averaging around 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in the A-10 conference.

  • Avila was born on September 10, 2003 in Oak Forest, Illinois.
  • As a rookie at Indiana State in 2024, Avila averaged 10.7 points and 4 rebounds and was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team.
  • During his junior year of high school at Oak Forest, Avila averaged 25.5 points and 11.5 rebounds and was ranked as the 6th-best player in Illinois and the 54th-best power forward in the country.
  • On March 20, 2026, Avila led Saint Louis to a dominant first-round NCAA Tournament win over Georgia.

The players

Robbie Avila

A 6-foot-10 center for Saint Louis University who has become a breakout star in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, known for his distinctive look, multiple nicknames, and impressive all-around game.

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets center whose resemblance to Avila has led to the Saint Louis player being nicknamed "College Jokic".

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What’s next

Avila and Saint Louis will look to continue their NCAA Tournament run in the next round, as they aim to make a deep March Madness push.

The takeaway

Robbie Avila's breakout performance in the NCAA Tournament has made him a must-watch player, showcasing his unique blend of size, skill, and court vision. As a transfer from Indiana State, Avila is now poised to become a household name in college basketball.