Losing five seniors to graduation left the CSU basketball team without much depth.

Adding former Navy forward JJ Avila should help alleviate that.

The 6′ 7″ former Patriot League Rookie of the Year verbally committed to CSU Sunday after visiting Fort Collins.

“My visit went really well.  I really liked the school. I liked all the players and all the coaches. Coach Eustachy is a really good guy. I know he was a wining coach,” Avila said. “CSU is making tradition of winning, and I want to get there and  be a part of it.”

He chose CSU among a final list of four teams that also included Tulane, Louisiana-Lafayette and TCU.

Redshirt sophomore Daniel Bejarano hosted Avila for the visit, but Avila spent time with “pretty much the whole team” over his stay.

“They all brought me in with open arms. They’re all just committed to winning, just like I am,” Avila said.

CSU assistant coach Ross Hodge contacted Avila before the NCAA Tournament saying the Rams were interested in Avila, and Avila told him he would see how the team played against Missouri.

“I really liked how they played against Missouri. Coach Eustachy is a great guy, I’d love to play for a coach like that,” Avila said.

CSU declined to comment on Avila’s commitment because the proper paperwork had not been filed with the compliance office.

Avila played two seasons at Navy before attending South Texas College for a year without playing college basketball and earning an associate’s degree.

“I’ll do a little bit of everything,  do what the coaches need me to do,” Avila said. “I’m pretty adaptable.”

Sports Editor Kyle Grabowski can be reached at sports@collegian.com.