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Robbie Avila, the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year known for his distinctive goggles, has been granted a preliminary injunction to play a fifth season of college basketball for Saint Louis, a decision handed down on Thursday.
St. Louis City Circuit Judge Jason Sengheiser also ruled that the university can temporarily expand its roster to 16 players to accommodate Avila until a trial takes place, a process that may stretch over several months. This effectively ensures the 23-year-old can compete for the entire season.
The ruling arrives just as the Billikens gear up for a marquee matchup against Missouri on Friday night.
Avila previously played two seasons under coach Josh Schertz at Indiana State before transferring to Saint Louis. During his junior year with the Sycamores, he averaged 17.3 points per game, and last season with the Billikens, he contributed 12.8 points per contest. Over his career, the 6-foot-10 forward has started 132 of 137 games.
Saint Louis enters the season with elevated expectations after a 29-6 campaign and an Atlantic 10 regular-season title last year. The Billikens earned a No. 9 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they defeated Georgia in the first round before falling to eventual national champion Michigan.
Avila is among the latest college athletes to secure eligibility following the NCAA's announcement earlier this year of a shift to a five-for-five model. This new framework grants athletes five seasons of competition within a five-year window, starting from when they turn 19 or graduate high school, whichever comes first. However, the rule was not designed to cover athletes from the 2022 class who had already exhausted their eligibility, prompting a surge of lawsuits across various sports nationwide.
In the majority of these cases, judges have sided with the plaintiffs, many of whom were joined by other athletes in similar eligibility limbo. Nevertheless, players and coaches harbor concerns that NCAA appeals could ultimately reverse these decisions, leaving athletes ineligible once more.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few recently voiced his frustration: "The NCAA screwed up on this deal. You've got to be fair and let these [class of] '22s in."
Adding to the complexity is the fact that some of these athletes, Avila included, have spent time with professional teams. Avila suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers during NBA summer league play, though he never inked a pro contract. Missouri forward Mark Mitchell, who will face Avila and the Billikens on Friday, played for the Denver Nuggets over the summer. Mitchell was part of a Kentucky lawsuit that successfully—at least for now—secured eligibility for 38 football and basketball players.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer recently commented, "I think these cases are going to go well into the season. I think no question you're going to have cases where certain players get an injunction, they're eligible for a certain period, and then they're not."
Key Analysis
The injunction for Avila underscores the ongoing tension between the NCAA and athletes seeking additional eligibility, particularly those from the 2022 class. While the five-for-five model aims to provide more flexibility, its application has sparked legal battles that could reshape college sports eligibility for years to come. The outcomes of these cases, and potential NCAA appeals, will be closely watched by players, coaches, and administrators alike.
Originally reported by espn.