Similar to NBA superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Avila wears goggles on the court. His frame is reminiscent of Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, and he’s heard the comparison before.
“coach [Josh Schertz] It’s always a joke to me that I’m one step behind everyone on the court. ” Avila told reporters Indianapolis Star. “I told him I was two steps slower because they wanted me to be one step slower, so I was a little slower than that.”
For the 6-foot-10, 240-pound sophomore, it’s all about leveraging his unique skill set against opponents who underestimate him.
“It’s just being able to tap into my strength and IQ,” he said. “Obviously, everyone knows I’m not the most athletic guy, but I’m able to use my strengths to make up for their weaknesses. Being able to take advantage of that is something we’ve been working on.”