ST. LOUIS — Robbie Avila confirmed up for his senior 12 months at Oak Forest Excessive with a brand new look.
Since someday round sixth grade, he had worn prescription Rec Specs goggles daily as a result of his mother and father had grown bored with shopping for new glasses. In earlier years, some frames would solely final days, casualties of wrestling matches together with his brother. Robbie had even smartened up sufficient to name out, “Wait, my glasses.” He’d set them to the aspect, and someway one of many Avila boys would find yourself pinned on high of them anyway.
On the basketball courtroom, the Rec Specs have been his tremendous weapon. He regarded a sure method, and … “Individuals at all times doubted him,” his father, Juan, stated. “Irrespective of the place we went, he would hear it. And he would silently choose them aside.”
In eighth grade, Avila had satisfied his mother and father he was accountable sufficient to put on his glasses once more. Now, only a 12 months away from school, he determined he may deal with contacts. The transition was annoying. He struggled to get the contacts to slot in his eye and keep there. They didn’t really feel proper. Lastly, his older brother spoke up.
Who was he making an attempt to be?
“You’re Robbie with the goggles,” he informed him. “For those who don’t have your goggles, you’re not Robbie.”
Three years later, Robbie with the goggles is without doubt one of the most recognizable faces in school basketball. He turned a cult hero over the course of the 2023-24 season due to his eyewear, his tattoo sleeve and a ability set belying his pudgy body that had TV analysts drawing comparisons to Nikola Jokić with out anybody batting a watch. Oh, after which there have been the nicknames. Cream Abdul-Jabbar. Larry Blurred. Larry Nerd. Milk Chamberlain. (Avila’s favourite is Rob Wave, a tribute to his favourite musician Rod Wave, however a lot to his chagrin, that one hasn’t caught just like the others.)
Robbie Avila went off for an enormous sport in opposition to Evansville. He completed with
35 Factors
8 Rebounds
5 Assists
1 Steal
58% FGIndiana State additionally acquired the win pic.twitter.com/CmIZ9bY2Ye
— KJ (@KJ__Hoops) February 29, 2024
Including to his Q rating was that he performed for an upstart mid-major that was extremely enjoyable to observe, one of the best Indiana State staff since Larry Hen was on campus. Indiana State had probably the most environment friendly half-court offense within the nation, a ravishing mix of spacing, capturing and reducing, with Avila because the hub. “Nobody is aware of who Robbie Avila is that if he was on a 12-20 staff,” stated Josh Schertz, the top coach of that staff.
The Sycamores received the Missouri Valley Convention common season title for the third time ever, however they have been snubbed for an NCAA Event bid after an upset loss to Drake within the MVC event remaining. Schertz and Avila are hoping they will deliver that very same magic to Saint Louis, which introduced in Schertz and a few of his largest Sycamores contributors after a 13-20 season. Schertz is aware of he has an opportunity as a result of he satisfied his most vital participant to observe him.
And Schertz may see the potential that opponents underestimated from the primary day he laid eyes on it.
Three years in the past Schertz pulled into the Oak Forest parking zone in a brown Ford Edge, hoping to land the participant he felt may remodel his program. Pulling in simply forward of Schertz was a luxurious SUV. A tall man with a chiseled jawline climbed out.
“Who’s that?” Schertz’s spouse, Natalia, requested.
It was Northern Iowa’s Ben Jacobson, the Missouri Valley’s all-time winningest coach. Schertz was months into the job at Indiana State, which hadn’t received the league in twenty years.
“Oh wow,” Natalia stated. “He’s very good-looking. You haven’t any likelihood in opposition to him.”
Schertz had fallen exhausting for Avila that summer season of 2021. He messaged assistant Zak Boisvert at halftime of the primary sport he watched, satisfied he’d discovered “the one.” From then on, both Schertz or Boisvert would make the three-hour drive to the south suburbs of Chicago each week, ensuring Avila knew how a lot they wished him.
Schertz knew he was the underdog. Jacobson may present Avila movie of Seth Tuttle, a former MVC Participant of the Yr, or Jordan Eglseder, who as soon as carved up general No. 1 seed Kansas to ship UNI to the Candy 16. Schertz was exhibiting recruits movie of his Division II staff at Lincoln Memorial. And at 5-foot-8 with a bald head and the childhood nickname “POOH” tattooed on his proper arm, he was not an imposing determine like Jacobson.
Schertz wished the final phrase, so proper earlier than Oak Forest coach Matt Manzke got here out to speak to the coaches, Schertz faked like he needed to go to the restroom. He acquired to go second.
His remaining pitch to Avila: You don’t seem like a participant; I don’t seem like a coach, however I do suppose we may join and actually do one thing particular for those who belief me.
Avila informed the coaches he’d decide within the subsequent 24 to 48 hours. Days glided by with out phrase. He didn’t return calls or texts. Normally he’d speak this stuff by way of together with his mother and father, however he didn’t say something to them, both. Two weeks later, on the way in which to teach a youth soccer sport, he informed his dad that he was going to Northern Iowa. Juan congratulated him on his determination and informed him he wanted to name each coaches that afternoon once they acquired dwelling. Robbie went into the storage and reemerged 45 minutes later with out making the decision. It didn’t really feel proper.
One other two weeks glided by.
He stored coming again to Schertz’s pitch. Contemporary off his personal picture disaster — “You’re Robbie with the goggles” — the message resonated.
Lastly, on Oct. 22, 2021, Schertz’s cellphone rang. He retains the FaceTime on the backside of his name log. He’ll by no means delete document of the day that modified the trajectory of his program — and each his and Avila’s lives.
Avila averaged 17.4 factors, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per sport in his remaining season with the Sycamores. (MaCabe Brown / Courier & Press / USA As we speak Community)
The ultimate clip of the ultimate movie session of summer season follow at Saint Louis confirmed Avila falling to the ground throughout the day before today’s follow. Avila shouted that he was tripped by a teammate. Assistant Phil Gaetano rewound and performed it once more. “He lifted his heel up!” Avila protested. Later, he admitted he was drained and took a dive. He’s been identified to untie his sneakers to get a break. After everybody acquired a superb snigger about his fall, one other clip confirmed Schertz consuming grime rounding second throughout a softball sport the Billikens performed that summer season. Avila was the loudest heckler within the room.
“These two,” former Indiana State guard Julian Larry stated, “they’re somewhat dynamic comedy duo.”
“Josh is one in every of his finest pals,” Juan Avila stated. “Actually.”
When Schertz accepted the Saint Louis job after Indiana State’s run to the NIT championship sport, he was fairly assured that Avila would observe him.
They’d already mentioned the likelihood three weeks earlier when phrase first surfaced that Schertz was in talks with Saint Louis, hours after the Sycamores’ NCAA Event snub. The following day, Schertz pulled every of his starters one after the other into his workplace as a result of he didn’t need it to be a distraction throughout the NIT. He additionally requested the gamers for his or her opinion. If all of them wished to remain, he informed them, he would keep. In the event that they wished to go together with him, he would welcome them. And in the event that they have been going to look elsewhere after the season in both state of affairs, he understood that as properly. That night time, Avila texted Schertz: “No matter you do, I’m rocking with you.”
Avila entered the portal with a “Don’t contact” request subsequent to his title, however school coaches reached out to his former highschool coach anyway. A whole lot of the big-name faculties who as soon as ignored him have been now in pursuit. “The sum of money he turned down to return right here is fairly vital,” Schertz stated. “It’s only a testomony to who he’s and our relationship.”
Now the duo can be examined to see whether or not their magic was a matter of best circumstances in Terre Haute or whether or not these kindred spirits can jump-start one other program. Avila already has a brand new catchy nickname (“SLU Alcindor”), and his level guard Isaiah Swope adopted him, however Schertz is aware of it’s not a provided that his offense will hum in a deeper league. “That staff match collectively completely,” he stated. “However even that staff, in the event that they’d come again, doesn’t imply it will have symmetrically match collectively simply as completely this 12 months. Guys might need wished extra.”
The sport can be straightforward for the opposite Billikens in the event that they study to area and reduce exhausting, permitting Avila to generate what Schertz calls probably the most environment friendly shot in basketball: a non-dribble layup.
“We’ve one of the best passing huge in school basketball,” Schertz informed his staff this summer season. “If I’m you guys, I’m reducing with nice tempo.”
Nobody scored extra effectively off cuts final season than Indiana State, in response to Synergy’s information. Different coaches ask Schertz how he will get his guys to chop so exhausting. Straightforward: They know they’re going to get the ball from their huge man. “He helped elevate my reducing to a different stage,” former teammate Jayson Kent stated of Avila.
Avila is a magician with these passes. He merely watches the reducing defender’s head. When that head turns, it doesn’t matter whether or not it appears to be like like his teammate doesn’t have a bonus; he is aware of he can squeeze the ball in. Some gamers are able to making that move, however their turnover fee skyrockets once they begin chasing highlights. What makes Avila particular, as one coach who has studied him places it, is that he hits singles and residential runs.
The lineup round him is sensible on paper. Schertz satisfied sharpshooter Gibson Jimerson to remain at SLU. Kalu Anya is the kind of defensive-minded huge that Schertz knew was important to play alongside Avila within the frontcourt. Then, most vital to the offense working accurately, Avila wanted a pick-and-roll associate. And that’s why Swope’s dedication was so vital.
Schertz at all times makes use of his gamers on recruiting visits, placing the recruit in a room with gamers solely and telling the household they will ask something. The recruits can request sure gamers or go away it as much as the coaches, and once they select the latter, Avila is at all times a part of the panel. On his Indiana State go to a 12 months in the past, Swope requested Avila why he didn’t go away for more cash after his freshman 12 months. Avila spoke in regards to the system, the tradition and the way he felt like he was valued and utilized the proper method.
“You hear lots all through the world, particularly with NIL stuff, lots of people are cash pushed and everyone simply up and leaves,” Swope stated. “I’m not wired that method. What he stated was what I used to be in search of, simply someplace the place it’s in regards to the love of the sport and getting higher every day.”
The 2 work together like brothers in follow, often bonding however sometimes feuding when matched in opposition to one another. When paired collectively, they not often lose.
Avila places it on himself to attempt to catch everybody else up. “He’s a uncommon man that brings the imaginative and prescient of what we wish to be as a program to the courtroom and the locker room each single day,” Schertz stated. “He’s not degrading guys, demeaning guys. He’s encouraging, but in addition holding guys accountable. And he’s going to actually assault something that will get in the way in which of successful, however he’s not going to do it in a method that leaves the individual feeling lower than.”
There’s at all times somewhat self-deprecating humor blended in as properly.
When the SLU gamers gathered at half courtroom for the ultimate scrimmage of the summer season, Avila backed out of the middle circle and checked out Kalu. “Forty inch vert with a 7-3 wingspan,” he stated to his new teammate. “I’ve acquired a minus wingspan.”
“You simply wish to be round him and hang around with him,” Kent stated. “He’s very inclusive, from grad guys all the way in which right down to freshmen.”
Because of this there was by no means any jealousy final season, his former teammates stated, when his star shined brighter than anybody else’s. Similar ol’ Robbie. The one time the eye acquired an increase out of him was over Christmas break when he blurted out at dinner one night time, “Holy f—! Excuse my language, guys. Mark Cuban simply adopted me.”
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Avila was about to be interviewed on digital camera earlier than a follow Saint Louis opened to the media this summer season when he realized he was carrying his glasses. He raced previous Natalia on his approach to the locker room. She requested what he was doing.
“I gotta go placed on the goggles,” he stated. “That’s what they’re right here for. They’re coming to see the goggles. Not me.”
Robbie with the goggles has absolutely embraced his model. He has an NIL take care of Bommarito Automotive, who equipped him with a Cadillac CT5V. Final 12 months he put his celeb (and NIL cash) to good use, shopping for Nike Zoom Freak 2 sneakers for the Oak Forest basketball gamers and coaches. He noticed media alternatives as a approach to “exemplify my teammates and put them up too.”
In the meantime, he has change into a hero for youthful bespectacled athletes. He has acquired letters from mother and father and children letting him know he has made goggles cool. “I wish to use my platform to be a highlight for youths who put on goggles,” he stated. “Some youngsters get made enjoyable of. I acquired teased after I was youthful. I need youngsters to understand it’s OK to be you. You don’t have to vary.”
Avila is embracing one change, nevertheless. He’s on a mission to get to the NCAA Event this season after barely lacking out final 12 months. He knew he may get even higher as a junior by slimming down. He has modified his consuming habits, however he stated it doesn’t assist Swope texts him each different day to hit Baskin Robbins. “My physique’s not like yours!” he tells Swope.
Ideally, he needs to shed “pudgy” from the look that helped make him well-known. The tougher loss may very well be switching to a brand new set of goggles forward of the brand new season.
Regardless that the wear and tear and tear made final season’s gameday specs virtually unusable at instances — and he had backups he wore in follow — he refused to put on a unique pair in video games. Natalia stored black tape and Krazy Glue in her bag and needed to carry out surgical procedure a number of instances. Avila lives by a favourite adage of his father: “If it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.”
That’s why Robbie with the goggles is now a Billiken. He’s not completed doing particular issues with the coach who is aware of picture isn’t the whole lot.
(High illustration: Meech Robinson for The Athletic; Pictures: Mitchell Layton / Getty Photographs; David Allio / Icon Sportswire)
