Edson Avila’s body is a work in progress. At 6-foot-10, the Thomas Jefferson rising senior has the size that makes college coaches drool. But early in his high-school career he admittedly carried some excess baby fat.
No longer, though. Avila looked as trim as ever Friday night playing at for the Youth Builders at Dyckman in Washington Heights. He credits a protein diet that his mother put him on and he has dropped 15 pounds.
“I jump higher since I lost the weight,” Avila said. “That’s a good thing right there.”
Indeed, Avila seemed more athletic, rising for spectacular dunks Friday. The Bronx native says he’s as fast as he’s ever been. Now he wants to regain some weight – in the form of muscle. Avila had a strong summer with New Heights and has interest from Pittsburgh, Hofstra and Colorado.
“By the time the season comes I should have some good schools,” he said.”I just gotta keep working hard.”
The Rice transfer, who is entering his second season at Jefferson, has big plans for the Orange Wave this season, including a borough and city championships. Avila knows he’ll be a big part of how far his team goes. Just maybe not as big as before.
Mad Mob 62, Youth Builders 56: Kennedy grad Jeffrey Short had 20 points and Oak Hill Academy’s Sidiki Johnson added all 10 of his points in the second half for Mad Mob. Johnson didn’t arrive until there were nine minutes left in the game after racing over from West 145th Street and Lenox Avenue, the home of the Tri-State Classic, where he was practicing for the Battle of the Boroughs tournament that takes place next week.
Blessed Sacrament’s Dave Rucker had 16 points and Satellite Academy’s Saiquan Richards and James Monroe graduate Andre Hannah each added 13 for Youth Builders.