ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis senior center Robbie Avila has landed on the preseason Watch List for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today.

The annual Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, named after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion, celebrates its 12th year by honoring the top centers in Division I men's college basketball. Last season, Avila was a top-10 finalist for the award. 

Avila is a preseason first-team All-Conference selection and was tabbed the Atlantic 10 Conference Preseason Player of the Year by Blue Ribbon. He averaged 17.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last season, leading all centers in Division I in 3s made per game and assists per game. In addition to being a top 10 candidate for the Kareem Abdul-Jabaar Center of the Year Award, Avila was named to Watch Lists for the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award and Lute Olson Award.

Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting today, Friday, October 31. In early February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in early March, to just five. Later in March, the five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and Hall of Fame's selection committee, where winners will be selected. 

Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award are Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton (2025), Zach Edey, Purdue (2023-24), Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (2022), Luka Garza, Iowa (2020-21), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016), and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).

Avila and the Billikens open the season Monday night against Southeast Missouri at Chaifetz Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.