The College Sports Commission has rejected Saint Louis University’s request to add standout forward Robbie Avila as a 16th player, creating a last-minute obstacle to his return just as the Billikens prepared for a high-profile matchup against in-state rival Missouri.
A St. Louis City Circuit Court judge granted Avila a preliminary injunction on Thursday that restored his eligibility for a fifth season and permitted SLU to exceed the standard 15-player roster limit until a full trial could be held. The ruling appeared to clear the way for the 6-foot-10 former Atlantic 10 Player of the Year to suit up Friday night at the Enterprise Center. Yet the College Sports Commission issued a statement declining to implement the state court order, arguing that doing so would violate the roster limits established by the federal House v. NCAA settlement.
“While we take no position on Mr. Avila’s eligibility, we cannot effectuate a state court order that requires us to violate the explicit terms of a federal injunctive relief settlement by giving Saint Louis University an additional roster slot,” the CSC said. “Mr. Avila may be eligible to play college basketball this season, but there is no roster slot available for him at Saint Louis University.”
Avila, who followed coach Josh Schertz from Indiana State to Saint Louis, averaged 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists last season while helping the Billikens post a program-record 29 wins, capture the A-10 regular-season title and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He had exhausted four seasons of competition before the NCAA adopted a five-seasons-in-five-years framework earlier this year. Like other athletes from the high school class of 2022, Avila challenged the association’s decision to exclude that group from the expanded eligibility window. He previously received a temporary restraining order and had practiced with the team, but the Billikens’ roster was already at the House settlement’s 15-player cap.
The CSC’s stance highlights the tension between state court decisions on individual eligibility and the nationwide roster and compensation framework created by the House settlement. That settlement replaced traditional scholarship limits with firm roster caps—15 for men’s basketball—and created the College Sports Commission to enforce compliance among participating schools. While many athletes from the 2022 class have secured additional eligibility through litigation, the combination of eligibility and roster-spot issues has proven more complicated for programs already at capacity.
As of Friday, Avila’s availability for the Missouri game and the remainder of the season remained unresolved. SLU entered the season with high expectations after last year’s success, and adding the versatile, high-volume three-point shooting big man would have strengthened an already potent offense. Instead, the Billikens face the immediate challenge of navigating a marquee non-conference game without the player many viewed as a key piece of their Atlantic 10 title defense. Further legal or administrative steps could still alter the situation in the coming days, but the CSC’s position leaves no immediate roster path for Avila at Saint Louis.
