A U.S. District Court in Colorado has issued a preliminary injunction that grants high‑school graduates of the class of 2022 an additional year of NCAA eligibility. The decision, handed down by Judge Charlotte Sweeney, marks a rare legal intervention in the association’s eligibility rules and could reshape college sports planning for the next several seasons.
Legal Victory for an Extra Season
The injunction stems from a lawsuit that challenged the timing of the NCAA’s ‘Five‑For‑Five’ rule, which was slated to take effect next year. By allowing athletes who began competition in the 2022‑23 season to claim a fifth year, the court effectively sidesteps the rule’s delayed rollout and provides immediate relief to those whose eligibility would otherwise expire after the 2025‑26 academic year.
The ruling does not create a blanket extension for all athletes; rather, it applies to those who have already completed four years of eligibility by the 2025‑26 season. This narrow but significant distinction means that only a select group of seniors can now petition for an additional year, provided they meet the academic and participation criteria outlined by the court.
What It Means for WVU Basketball
Five players from West Virginia University’s 2022 recruiting class — Brenen Lorient, Harlan Obioha, Honor Huff, Treysen Eaglestaff and Jasper Floyd — have already graduated and could benefit from the injunction. With an open roster spot projected for the 2026‑27 season, the decision raises the possibility that one or more of these former Mountaineers might return to complete a fifth year of play.
Local sports outlet WV Sports Now has highlighted the development, emphasizing both the legal nuance and the broader impact on college athletics. While the organization itself is not a party to the lawsuit, its coverage underscores how the ruling could influence recruitment strategies and roster planning across the nation.