A Major Development For NC State

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 27: Ven-Allen Lubin #22 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack dunks the ball during the college basketball game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Syracuse Orange on January 27, 2026 at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

New NC State coach Justin Gainey caught a major break Saturday when a judge gave Ven-Allen Lubin a fifth year of eligibility.

Gainey has put together a decent roster, but it needed a little bit more in the frontcourt. And Lubin, who is 6-9 and 250 pounds, and who has matured nicely, will be a huge asset.

Last season, he averaged 13.6 ppg, 7.1 boards, and shot 66.8%, but was forced to play center more than he should have been.

Assuming someone else can at least share center duties, and the chemistry isn’t damaged, this is a huge get for the Wolfpack, and it will force people to reconsider how this team is ranked going into the season.

• Ven-Allen Lubin returning to NC State for a 5th season
• NC State gets a surprise 5th year veteran to bolster frontcourt depth for 2026-27
• NC State basketball secures veteran Ven-Allen Lubin for one more year
• Ven-Allen Lubin Returning For One More Season
• BREAKING: Ven-Allen Lubin is coming back to NC State!
• Texas Order Means Ven-Allen Lubin Is Now Eligible Next Season No Matter What happens with Colorado Case
• Ven-Allen Lubin enters the transfer portal, open to returning to UNC men’s basketball

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