Saint Louis basketball star Robbie Avila has been granted a preliminary injunction allowing him to play a fifth college season. The ruling, issued Thursday, November 5, 2026, clears the way for the reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year to return to the Billikens just before their rivalry game against Missouri.
St. Louis City Circuit Court Judge Jason Sengheiser ruled that Avila can compete while his legal challenge against the NCAA continues. The judge also allowed Saint Louis to add Avila as a 16th player, temporarily exempting the school from the NCAA's 15-player roster limit.
The decision gives coach Josh Schertz another experienced offensive player as Saint Louis begins its 2026–27 campaign. Schertz confirmed that Avila would be in uniform for Friday's game against Missouri at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
The injunction remains in effect until the case reaches trial, which could take several months. Although the ruling could allow Avila to play the entire season, it does not permanently resolve his eligibility dispute.
Why Avila Challenged the NCAA
Avila's lawsuit centers on changes to the NCAA's eligibility system introduced in 2026. The new framework generally allows athletes five seasons of competition within a five-year period, replacing the previous system that permitted four seasons within five years.
The NCAA's implementation of the policy created complications for athletes who began college in 2022 and had already completed four seasons. Many players from that class were excluded from receiving an additional year, prompting legal challenges in several states.
Avila completed his fourth season in March 2026 after Saint Louis was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. He subsequently graduated, entered the NBA draft process and explored professional basketball opportunities before seeking permission to return to college.
His legal case argued that excluding athletes from his graduating class from the new eligibility framework was unfair. Avila sought court protection against NCAA restrictions that would otherwise prevent him from competing during the 2026–27 season.
The dispute also involved Saint Louis' roster size. Even if Avila received another year of eligibility, the Billikens already had 15 players, meaning the university needed additional legal protection to bring him back without removing someone else.
Sengheiser addressed both issues through the preliminary injunction. The order protects Avila's opportunity to compete and prevents the NCAA from enforcing its roster limit in a way that would block his return while the litigation proceeds.
Avila's NBA Summer League Experience
Avila's brief involvement with the Los Angeles Lakers introduced another question into the eligibility dispute. After going undrafted in the 2026 NBA draft, he participated in NBA Summer League games while exploring a possible professional career.
According to reporting by Reuters, Avila testified that he had verbally agreed to a professional contract with the Lakers but never signed it. That distinction became important because formal professional agreements can affect an athlete's college eligibility.
Avila ultimately returned to Saint Louis and enrolled in graduate courses. His decision to pursue another college season placed him among a growing number of athletes seeking judicial relief from NCAA eligibility restrictions.
Missouri forward Mark Mitchell faced a somewhat similar situation after participating with the Denver Nuggets' Summer League team. His experience reflects the increasingly complicated relationship between college eligibility and opportunities in professional basketball.
Avila initially received a temporary restraining order in October that offered short-term protection while his case moved forward. Saint Louis did not immediately add him to its active roster, choosing to await further legal developments before allowing him to compete.
The November 5 preliminary injunction provides more lasting protection than the earlier temporary order. However, the underlying lawsuit remains unresolved, and future court proceedings could affect the ruling.
Saint Louis Gets Back Its Leading Scorer
Avila's return strengthens a Saint Louis team that enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in program history. The Billikens finished the 2025–26 campaign with a 29–6 record, winning a share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season championship.
Saint Louis earned a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament and defeated Georgia 102–77 in the opening round. The Billikens then lost 95–72 to Michigan, which went on to win the national championship.
That tournament victory was the program's first since 2014. The team's 29 wins also established a school record, raising expectations for another competitive season under Schertz.
Avila played an important role in that success, averaging 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He started all 35 games and earned Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors for his performance.
The 6-foot-10 center is particularly valuable because of his unusual combination of shooting and passing ability. He made approximately 41% of his three-point attempts last season, helping Saint Louis create scoring opportunities both inside and beyond the arc.
His passing also gives the Billikens flexibility in their offensive system. Unlike traditional centers who operate primarily near the basket, Avila can distribute the ball from the perimeter and help teammates find open shots.
Across four college seasons at Indiana State and Saint Louis, Avila has recorded 1,990 points, 473 assists and 214 three-pointers. Those totals reflect a productive college career that began under Schertz at Indiana State.
Avila followed Schertz to Saint Louis in 2024 after the coach left Indiana State. Their established relationship provides continuity as the Billikens prepare to incorporate Avila into a lineup that has already begun its season.
What Avila's Return Means for the Billikens
Saint Louis enters the new season with several important returning players, including Trey Green, Ishan Sharma, Quentin Jones and Kellen Thames. Their experience gives Schertz a foundation of players familiar with his offensive approach.
Green and Sharma are especially important perimeter shooters who complement Avila's ability to pass and stretch defenses. Together, they give Saint Louis multiple scoring options and make it harder for opponents to concentrate on one player.
CBS Sports described Saint Louis as a potential Top 25 team following Avila's return. The outlet also identified the Billikens as a leading contender for the Atlantic 10 championship.
There will still be adjustments as Avila returns to game competition. Although he has practiced with the program, he missed the season opener while the legal proceedings continued.
Saint Louis opened its campaign with a 92–67 victory over Lehigh on November 2. Friday's game against Missouri will offer the first opportunity to see how Avila fits into the team's current rotation.
NCAA Eligibility Dispute Continues
Avila's case is part of a wider legal debate over how the NCAA should regulate athlete eligibility. Similar lawsuits have challenged the organization's rules on competition limits, professional opportunities and roster restrictions.
The NCAA has argued for maintaining consistent eligibility standards across its member institutions. Athletes challenging the rules have raised questions about fairness, particularly when new policies exclude players who began college under an earlier system.
Coaches across the country have expressed concerns about the uncertainty surrounding eligibility decisions. The expanding number of court cases has complicated roster planning and created differences in which athletes can participate.
For Saint Louis, the immediate impact is clear: the reigning conference player of the year is available to compete again. Whether the injunction survives further legal proceedings will depend on what happens as Avila's case moves toward trial.
The Billikens are scheduled to face Missouri on Friday, November 6, with Avila expected to make his season debut. His return provides Saint Louis with another proven scorer and playmaker as the program attempts to build on its record-setting 2025–26 campaign.