Brenen Lorient Set to Return to WVU for Fifth Year of Eligibility

West Virginia forward Brenen Lorient is returning to the West Virginia Mountaineers following the court ruling in Colorado, providing the 2022 class a fifth year of eligibility. The news was first reported by On3.

What this means

Lorient's return is not a surprise. There is a reason why Ross Hodge kept a roster spot open and why Lorient decided to not play professionally, be it in the NBA or overseas. This was the plan for him all along; however, this does not mean he is absolutely in the clear just yet.

Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado recently denied the NCAA's appeal to overturn her initial ruling for the class-wide injunction. Also not surprising. To get the same judge to change his/her mind is not easy to do, especially that quickly. The NCAA is now hoping for the Tenth Circuit to reverse the ruling to box out anyone trying to return for a fifth year.

He and fellow WVU forward Javan Buchanan both filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in the U.S. District Court earlier this month. We have yet to hear from the judge on that case. If it does go Lorient's and Buchanan's way, they will be good to go for the 2026-27 season.

How this alters the depth chart

Seydou Traore (pictured above) may have to give up No. 0, for starters. Lorient was the owner of that this past season, and I'd assume he would have seniority, assuming he wants it back.

But more importantly, this now moves Traore to the bench, where he can be the primary backup on the wing. If Buchanan also becomes eligible, then WVU will be in terrific shape in the frontcourt with Lorient and Mo Sylla as the starters at the four and five, with Buchanan, Amadou Seini, and Aliou Dioum as depth options. Troare played the four at Utah last season, but is better suited on the wing.

In 34 games for the Mountaineers, Lorient averaged 11.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 54% from the field and 35% from three-point range. He was West Virginia's most consistent player all year and played really well down the stretch, helping the Mountaineers win the College Basketball Crown.

His skillset is exactly what this team was missing in the starting lineup.

Projected starters

G Miles Sadler

G Finley Bizjack

G Joson Sanon

F Brenen Lorient

C Mo Sylla

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