Overview
- Avila posted 12 points, five rebounds and five assists in a 102-77 first-round win that sent Saint Louis to face No. 1 Michigan.
- He set the tone early with eight points, four rebounds and three assists as the Billikens took a 49-32 halftime lead over Georgia.
- The 6-foot-10 center transferred from Indiana State with coach Josh Schertz and serves as a playmaking hub in Saint Louis’ five-out system.
- Season reports credit Avila with roughly 12.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while drawing comparisons to Nikola Jokić’s style.
- He has embraced a wave of viral nicknames tied to his goggles, telling TMZ that “Cream Abdul-Jabbar” is his favorite.