Indiana State star Robbie Avila was one of the most intriguing names to hit the transfer portal after achieving internet fame last season with the Sycamores.
He announced his fate on Saturday via Campo de 68: Saint Louis, where former Indiana State coach Josh Schertz will follow. The Billikens hired Schertz earlier this month after a 32-7 season at Terra Haute.
Ávila described the transfer portal process as a repeat of his high school recruiting process, despite entering the portal without a contact designation, which is what athletes do when they know where they want to go. He said he has received interest from all Power 5 conferences, with several ACC schools in particular:
“There were a bunch of ACC schools, all the Power 5s reached out. I had contact with many schools. all at once, the first day you walk in, everyone tries to get in touch with you.”
Avila ultimately made the same decision he made in high school, to play for Schertz:
“He immediately showed interest that bigger schools didn’t show in me. A lot of schools thought I wasn’t good enough to play at this level. He didn’t. He really trusted me, he really saw the vision… I think We’ve built such a good relationship that I can’t imagine playing with anyone else now.”
Bringing Avila with him is a huge accomplishment for Schertz as he prepares to lead a mid-major that has reached the NCAA tournament 10 times in its history. Ávila became something of a cult hero among college basketball’s most dedicated fans last season between his skills, with 17.4 points per game and a first-team All-MVC selection, and his distinctive aesthetic.
The nicknames were next level, with “Cream Abdul-Jabbar” and “Larry Curd” leading the pack (the latter may no longer apply now that he’s left the Boston Celtics legend’s alma mater). He led the Sycamores to the Missouri Valley Conference title, but fell 84-80 to Drake in the conference title game. There was still hope that the state of Indiana would make March Madness an outlaw program, but the program was controversially passed over for the likes of Virginia and Boise State.
The Sycamores accepted an NIT bid and reached the title game, where they lost 79-77 to Seton Hall, another tournament loss.
