MORGANTOWN- West Virginia University received a boost across three sports Wednesday when U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey granted four Mountaineer athletes an additional season of eligibility.
Men’s basketball players Brenen Lorient and Javan Buchanan, football defensive back Jason Chambers, and baseball pitcher Ben McDougal were granted a preliminary injunction allowing them to compete during the 2026-27 academic year. All four athletes are members of the 2022 high school graduating class and had challenged the NCAA’s new “5-for-5” eligibility rule.
Lorient started all 34 games for WVU last season, averaging 11.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while Buchanan averaged 12.6 points and five rebounds during his final season at Boise State. Chambers started all 12 games for the Mountaineers last season and recorded 34 tackles and an interception and is eligible to play for WVU this weekend at Iowa State. McDougal, a veteran left-handed pitcher, appeared in 32 games over his first two seasons at WVU and played an important relief role during the Mountaineers’ run to the College World Series.
Bailey’s ruling also prevents the NCAA from enforcing its Rule of Restitution against the players or WVU based on their participation under the injunction. The decision gives all four players the opportunity to continue their careers as Mountaineers while the larger questions surrounding the NCAA’s new eligibility rules continue to play out.
