Robbie Avila blocked from playing Saint Louis opener by College Sports Commission, despite court order

The College Sports Commission released a statement Friday announcing it has denied Saint Louis’ request to add Avila as the 16th player on its roster, citing a hard 15-player limit for men’s basketball teams. Per Frank Cusumano of KSDK, Avila will not play against Missouri.

That’s despite St. Louis City Circuit Court Judge Jason Sengheiser explicitly saying Saint Louis can have a 16th roster spot for Avila on Thursday, with the order remaining in effect until a trial is held (likely months later).

The order appeared to clear the way for Avila, a breakout star in past NCAA Tournaments, to play a fifth season. The CSC, however, argued in its statement that Sengheiser’s order as a state judge cannot supersede the terms of a federal injunctive relief settlement. The CSC was formed in 2025 to oversee the implementation of the terms of the landmark House settlement that created the current structure of revenue sharing and NIL money..

The CSC also noted that Saint Louis has twice opted into the House settlement and that Avila “may be eligible to play college basketball this season,” just not for a team with an already fully roster. The full statement can be read below.

Avila was one of many athletes from the high school class of 2022 who fought in court for a fifth season of college eligibility before the NCAA introduced its 5-in-5 model this summer. Following his senior year at Saint Louis, Avila went unselected in the 2026 NBA Draft and agreed to an Exhibition 10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, playing for the franchise’s Summer League team but going unsigned for the NBA season.

Avila argued in court he never physically signed that Lakers deal, instead verbally agreeing to it. Once Sengheiser took his side, he appeared to have a clear path to playing. Saint Louis certainly believed that to be the case, with head coach Josh Schertz telling SB Nation on Thursday that Avila “will be dressing and available for sure” for the in-state rivalry clash with Missouri.

Instead, another college eligibility case is once again in legal limbo. Avila’s eligibility is no small issue for the Billikens, as he earned Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors last season while averaging 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

College Sports Commission statement on Robbie Avila

The College Sports Commission has denied the request by Saint Louis University to add a 16th player to its 2026-2027 men’s basketball roster in violation of the roster limits imposed by the injunctive relief settlement in House v. NCAA.

Saint Louis University was not required to opt into the House settlement. In choosing to do so, twice, it chose to be subject to the rules governing revenue sharing and roster limits. The men’s basketball roster limit is 15, according to the explicit terms of the settlement. Saint Louis University was not required to fill its roster to the maximum, but it chose to do so, leaving no open slots for an additional player. A school that is subject to the terms of the settlement does not get to disregard those terms.

The CSC is aware of the November 5, 2026, order from the Missouri Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis granting Mr. Avila’s motion for a preliminary injunction. 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. Mr. Avila may be eligible to play college basketball this season, but there is no roster slot available for him at Saint Louis University.