Edson Avila was ready to go to Manhattan College, ready to play Division I basketball. Then, late in his senior year, he received the depressing news.
The 6-foot-10 big man from The Bronx was a non-qualifier.
It was at that moment his life changed — for the better.
“That was a wakeup call,” he told The Post. “I know I had to get my things straight. I had to change.”
Two years later, after maturing on and off the court at Seward County Community College in Kansas, refining his skills and taking academics seriously, Avila is doing a lot better than the MAAC — he signed with Oklahoma of the Big 12, picking the Sooners over Gonzaga and Memphis, this week.
“It feels amazing just to have a chance to play in the Big 12,” said Avila, the former Thomas Jefferson star who will major in physical education at Oklahoma. “Every night is going to be a challenge.”
Avila broke into the starting lineup at Seward halfway through his freshman year, after current Southern Miss starter Daveon Boardingham got hurt. When Boardingham returned, Avila remained the starter, making Boardingham his personal Wally Pipp and helping Seward to a third-place finish in the national junior college tournament. This past season, he averaged 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game as the Saints went 25-8 and won the Jayhawk Conference’s West Division.
Seward assistant coach Jason Sautter raved about Avila’s defense and rebounding, how well he communicates with his teammates and his ability to score with either hand around the basket.
“[Oklahoma] is going to get a guy who works hard, a guy who wants to be coached, a guy who is going to be a great teammate,” Sautter said. “He plays hard. He’ll take charges, he’ll block shots. He’s going to be a good player for them.”
Having to take the junior college route forced Avila to grow up, to take school seriously, he said. In high school, Avila did just enough to get by, on the court and in the classroom. That wouldn’t fly at the next level, and after a brief transition period, Sautter said Avila did everything that was asked of him.
“Where I was coming out of high school to where I’m at now, it’s a huge difference,” Avila said. “It feels good, just to know hard work really pays off. It tells me I have t keep getting better and better. I’m pretty proud.”
Christ the King’s Severe moves up decision: Jon Severe, the city’s top senior and New York State’s Mr. Basketball, has moved up his college announcement, from May 22 to Wednesday, he said.
The 6-foot-2 standout from Brooklyn will pick between Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Wake Forest and Fordham, Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello said, in a press conference Wednesday at the Queens school at 2:30 p.m.
“I thought he was solid with the date May 22, then when he told me wanted to change it, I was surprised,” Arbitello said. “I didn’t think he was going to change it.”
Severe, who led the Royals to a city and state title this winter, won’t take any more visits before a decision. Coaches from the schools are likely to come by Christ the King Monday or Tuesday, Arbitello said.
Of the four schools, Fordham has stood out to Arbitello. They sent three coaches to the state tournament in Albany and have never swayed in their desire to land Severe.
“Fordham has recruited him the hardest,” Arbitello. “Their head coach [Tom Pecora] has made himself more visible than anyone else.”
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The late signing period began Wednesday, and Brooklyn wing Richard Williams signed with Manhattan College, highly ranked Queens native Jermaine Lawrence signed with Cincinnati, New Jersey sharpshooter Chris Jenkins signed with Hofstra and acclaimed Philadelphia point guard Rysheed Jordan signed with St. John’s.
Jabari Peters, a shooting guard at JUCO Seward County Community College (Kan.) from Brooklyn, committed to Sam Houston State. He has two years of eligibility left after spending his freshman year at Division I Texas Southern.
Brooklyn point guard Naiel Smith of Queens City Prep (N.C.) verbally committed to Texas State.
Iverson Fleming, a combo guard from New Brunswick Township (N.J.) who de-committed from Hofstra when Mo Cassara was fired, verbally committed to LIU Thursday night. Also on Saturday, Teaneck (N.J.) shooting guard Joel Hernandez singed with LIU.
Point guard Trey Dickerson, a qualifier from Queens, holds offers from Murray State and Sam Houston State, and is also considering Arkansas, Auburn, West Virginia and Marquette.
Football
Lincoln defensive tackle Thomas Holley added offers from USC and Vanderbilt, lifting the junior’s impressive haul to 20.
Temple and UConn offered St. Joseph by the Sea two-way lineman Pete Mokuuah, joining Rutgers and UMass.
zbraziller@nypost.com
