Robbie Avila is officially back on the Saint Louis Billikens roster, at least for now, after a judge granted a temporary restraining order on Friday. This wild development comes just days before the college basketball season is set to tip off, and it throws a massive wrench into what we thought we knew about Saint Louis’s year. Avila, who was pushing for a fifth year of eligibility, is already enrolled at Saint Louis, but this ruling means he can actually suit up for the 2026-27 season.
Avila’s Unexpected Path Back to the Hardwood
This isn’t Avila’s first rodeo making waves in college hoops. We saw him lead Indiana State all the way to the NIT title game back in 2024. Then, he followed his coach, Josh Schertz, to Saint Louis, where he truly solidified his impact. Last season, Avila was a force, dropping 12.8 points, pulling down 4.5 rebounds, and dishing out 4.1 assists per game. He was key in leading Saint Louis to a sweet second-round run in the NCAA Tournament before they eventually fell to the squad that would become national champion, Michigan. It’s a huge boost to get that kind of talent back on a team that won 29 games and is bringing back ten players, including six of their seven top scorers. That is a serious lineup!
From Lakers Summer League to Courtroom Drama
What makes this whole situation even crazier is that after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, Avila wasn’t just sitting around. He signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and was out there playing in their summer league. For those not deep in the weeds, an Exhibit 10 is basically a one-year, non-guaranteed contract giving a player a shot to fight for a roster spot in training camp. The fact he went from a Lakers summer uniform straight to a judge’s ruling to get back on the college court? That is a wild, wild turn. And get this: while other major conferences like the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC have been vocal about setting boundaries for professional athletes returning to college, the Atlantic 10, Saint Louis’s conference, hasn’t dropped a single guideline on the topic. It seems like the A-10 is just letting the chaos unfold!
The Billikens are set to open their season on November 2 against Lehigh. But the real game to watch for Avila is his next court hearing, scheduled for November 4. That date is massive; it will determine if this temporary return becomes a full season triumph or a short-lived college hoops comeback.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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