Saint Louis forward Robbie Avila cleared to play in 2026-27 via court injunction
A Missouri circuit court judge granted Robbie Avila a preliminary injunction Thursday, allowing the Saint Louis forward and Atlantic 10 Player of the Year to compete in the 2026-27 season. The ruling also permitted Saint Louis University to add a 16th roster spot for Avila beyond the standard 15-player limit, an arrangement that will remain until a full trial concludes, which is not expected for several months. The eligibility dispute centers on the NCAA's five-for-five framework, which was not designed to account for athletes from the 2022 high school class who had already used up their eligibility. Avila's situation was further complicated by his involvement in NBA Summer League play and a verbal agreement on an Exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers that was never formally signed.
uncertainty surrounding these eligibility decisions remains.
Why it matters
For coaches: Programs recruiting or retaining players caught in similar eligibility disputes now have another example of a court overriding NCAA rules, which could influence roster planning decisions.
For athletes: College players from the 2022 high school class who believe the NCAA's five-for-five framework unfairly limits their eligibility may look to Avila's favorable ruling as a legal precedent for pursuing their own injunctions.
Read the full story at Yahoo Sports
Sources
- Yahoo Sports: Robbie Avila set to play for Saint Louis in 2026-27 after receiving injunction