Friday evening, the NCAA appealed the preliminary injunction given to four Mountaineers: West Virginia University baseball reliever Ben McDougal, football defensive back Jason Chambers, and men’s basketball forwards Javan Buchanan and Brenen Lorient.
The four Mountaineer remain eligible for now.
Buchanan, Lorient, Chambers, and McDougal received the preliminary on Wednesday from US District Judge John Preston Bailey for the Northern District of West Virginia, allowing them a fifth year of eligibility.
The court stated on Wednesday, “The NCAA will be ENJOINED from enforcing the Five for Five Rule as it applies to Brenen Lorient, Javan Buchanan, Jason Chambers, and Benjamin McDougal. Brenen Lorient, Javan Buchanan, Jason Chambers, and Benjamin McDougal are permitted to compete for available roster positions at West Virginia University, or another NCAA Division I member institution as applicable, during the 2026-27 academic year without the NCAA treating the participation as a violation of its eligibility rules. No security will be required.”
The NCAA passed a rule this summer that gives players five seasons of college eligibility, but the new rule did not grandfather in player who signed as part of the 2022 class.
Javan Buchanan
Buchanan transferred to WVU from Boise State in the offseason. The six-foot-seven forward averaged 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for the Broncos last season, hitting double figures in 21 contests, including scoring a career-high 29 points against San Diego State.
In his first season at Boise State as a junior, he averaged 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game after spending his first two years of eligibility at Indiana Wesleyan.
Brenen Lorient
Lorient followed head coach Ross Hodge from North Texas last season. He averaged 11.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and became one of he most consistent Mountaineers, scoring into double figures in 15-straight games to end the season.
Prior to spending the last two years at West Virginia and North Texas, he played 52 games at Florida Atlantic in two seasons.
Jason Chambers
Chambers started all 12 games at cornerback for the Mountaineers last season. He accumulated 34 tackles, including 29 solo stops and three tackles for loss, while recording four pass breakups and an interception.
The Charlotte (NC) spent two seasons at North Carolina Central before transferring to Appalachian State in 2024.
Ben McDougal
The Bridgeport (WV) native battle through two injuries last season, but as he did the year prior, he saved his best for last, collecting his first win of the season against Kentucky in five innings of relief, notching six strikeouts to force a game five of the Morgantown Regional. Then recorded his first save of the season against Troy to secure the program’s first ever College Series in.
In 13 appearances on the season, eight came during the Mountaineers’ historic run to Omaha and finished with a 3.14 ERA and 13 strikeouts.
McDougal spent his first two season of eligibility at Potomac State.
