ST. LOUIS—St. Louis University says men’s basketball player Robbie Avila will not suit up for Friday’s game due to new developments. The announcement came hours after the College Sports Commission denied SLU a 16th spot on its roster.
The College Sports Commission, which was set up apart from the NCAA in the wake of a federal court ruling regarding the NCAA’s antitrust exemption, has said Avila cannot play for SLU because there is no room on the roster.
The federal antitrust settlement, House vs. NCAA, which SLU agreed to follow, set basketball rosters at 15.
“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 College Sports Commission said in a statement widely reported by multiple media outlets.
Billikens Head Coach Josh Schertz said Thursday that Avila, who had been practicing with the scout team, would be in uniform and available to play Friday against the Tigers at Enterprise Center, but had not committed to how much he could see the floor.
Schertz has openly said in the months since a return to college sounded liked a possibility that he would support Avila if he chose to pursue other schools which might have more Name, Image and Likeness money available.
SLU said Avila will continue to pursue an opportunity to establish his eligibility and the University will support him in that effort.
Source: spectrumlocalnews.com
