Brenen Lorient set to rejoin WVU for 2026-27 season
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MORGANTOWN — Turns out West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge didn't have to travel very far to fill his final roster spot with the news that forward Brenen Lorient intends to play his fifth season with the Mountaineers this season.
The news was first reported by Joe Tipton of On3 and head coach Ross Hodge retweeted it on X.
Lorient, a prep recruit from the Class of 2022, is granted a fifth season of eligibility through the court decision by Colorado District Judge Charlotte Sweeney. Her ruling in July granted a preliminary injunction against the NCAA from disallowing members of the Class of 2022 from taking part in the new 5 for 5 rule, which gives college athletes five years of college eligibility.
That case is currently under appeal and it is possible the NCAA could win that appeal, which would again put Lorient's eligibility this season into question.
Lorient is also involved - along with fellow WVU forward Javan Buchanan - in an individual lawsuit against the NCAA, which was filed in the Northern District of West Virginia on Aug. 3. That case has yet to be heard.
At 6-foot-9 and 215-pounds, Lorient is coming off a strong season with the program where he averaged 11.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, while starting 34 games. He was a key piece of the formula for Hodge in his first season and gives the program a massive addition at this late stage.
If he remains eligible, it would be Lorient's third season under Hodge. He played at North Texas during the 2024-25 season, before following Hodge to WVU for the 2025-26 season. Lorient began his career with two seasons at Florida Atlantic.
The news of the return is a massive development for the WVU roster given not only Lorient's experience and skill set, but the need that remained for a versatile power forward.
West Virginia now has the full limit of 15 players heading into next season.