Saint Louis transfer Robbie Avila is finalizing a deal to play for TCU this season, with the sides described as “close” to completing the agreement. Multiple sources, including ESPN’s Pete Thamel, confirm the development, and Avila is expected to head to campus this week as the Horned Frogs look to add the reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year midway through the 2026-27 campaign.
Avila, a 6-foot-10 center, spent the past two seasons with the Billikens after following coach Josh Schertz from Indiana State. He was named A-10 Player of the Year last season after averaging 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 41 percent from three-point range. That production helped Saint Louis to a school-record 29 wins, an A-10 regular-season co-championship, and a run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Across his four-year career, Avila has scored 1,990 points and ranks among the most productive playmaking big men in recent college basketball, with more than 200 career three-pointers.
The move comes after a complicated eligibility saga. Avila sought a fifth season of eligibility and was granted a preliminary injunction by a St. Louis City Circuit Court judge. However, the College Sports Commission subsequently denied Saint Louis’s request to add him as a 16th scholarship player, citing the strict 15-man roster limit established under the House v. NCAA settlement. With no roster spot available at Chaifetz Arena, Avila entered the transfer portal and quickly drew interest from Power conference programs.
For the Billikens, the departure removes a versatile, high-usage center who led the team in both scoring and assists last season and provided rare stretch-and-pass ability at his position. Schertz’s program has already begun the 2026-27 season without him on the active roster. For TCU, under coach Jamie Dixon, the addition of a proven scorer and facilitator could provide an immediate boost in the Big 12 as the Horned Frogs navigate the early portion of their schedule.
Avila’s arrival on campus this week would allow him to begin the process of joining the TCU roster and preparing for the remainder of the season. Official confirmation from both programs is still pending as the final details are completed.
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