Koa Peat has chosen to remain in the 2026 NBA Draft, a decision that leaves Arizona without its starting power forward and creates an immediate roster hole as the Wildcats prepare for the next season. Peat’s move came after the NCAA withdrawal deadline expired on the evening of May 27, and it ends the possibility he would return to Tucson for his sophomore season. The loss of the 6-foot-9 freshman, who helped Arizona reach the Final Four, removes a significant frontcourt contributor and could alter expectations for the Wildcats’ hopes of returning to the NCAA semifinals.
Peat entered the draft process after declaring on April 24 and pursued the full array of pre-draft evaluations this spring. He participated in the NBA combine in Chicago and took part in a pro day run by his agency last weekend before the deadline. Those workouts produced mixed results and prompted debate among scouts about where he might be selected. At the combine, Peat’s shooting numbers raised concerns: he shot 50% on off-the-dribble attempts but managed just 28.0% in the three-point star drill and 24.0% in a spot-up shooting drill. Despite uneven testing, he chose to stay in the draft rather than withdraw and return to college.
Peat addressed the shooting results during his combine media availability, acknowledging the tough performance but stressing perspective. “If you have bad shooting days, sometimes you can't really get too high or too low about it,” he said. “I’m just continuing to work on that, not letting it try to consume me, knowing that I can do other things on the court to affect the game, affect winning. I feel like I've won my whole career, and I feel like I can do that at the NBA stage, as well.” Since the college season ended, Peat said he has been training in Los Angeles with player development coach Chris Johnson, working on midrange and 3-point shooting, ball handling and conditioning. He noted he is “trying to get it down a little bit lower, to get more arc” on his 3-point shot while maintaining his midrange release.
Entering the process, Peat was viewed by many as a potential first-round pick, with projections varying from the middle to later portions of the opening round. While the 2026-27 rookie salary scale has not been finalized, recent reference figures show that players selected between 11-29 in last year’s draft received guaranteed two-year contracts with first-year salaries in a range roughly between $2.8 million and $5.5 million. Those figures illustrate the financial realities facing prospects who believe their draft position will enable them to begin a professional career rather than return to college, even as an increasingly lucrative name, image and likeness marketplace has tempted some top college players to remain in school.
Arizona’s coaching staff largely stayed on the sidelines as Peat navigated the predraft calendar, with head coach Tommy Lloyd emphasizing that the process required full attention from the player. “The first thing is, they have to be fully focused and running this race, because this is a lot and this isn't something you can half-step into,” Lloyd said while attending the final day of the combine. “The second thing is that the plan all along was for him to come, have a great year, and us have a great year as a team, and then try to go to the NBA. I think everyone's willing to see that through.” Lloyd reiterated the message during a Big 12 spring meeting news conference, adding: "It's a big decision, and you have to trust no matter what decision you make. You don't have a crystal ball, so once you make the decisions, you've got to figure out a way to make it work." The coach’s comments underscored a long-anticipated possibility among the staff that Peat would turn professional and the program’s parallel work to identify replacements.
With Peat's status settled, the Wildcats have already been active in addressing the post on the roster. Arizona added Nebraska transfer Lithuanian center Ugnius Jarusevicius and Dutch big man Endurance "Endi" Aiyamenkhue since Peat declared for the draft. Jarusevicius is projected to at least provide backup minutes behind center Motiejus Krivas if he can overcome back problems that limited him to a single game in 2025-26. Aiyamenkhue is viewed as a developmental piece. The staff also has tracked other transfer and international possibilities; among names linked to Arizona was Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic, who removed himself from the NBA draft pool and remains a possible target to help replace minutes and frontcourt production.
Peat’s freshman campaign provided strong flashes that helped propel Arizona deep into the NCAA Tournament. The Chandler native opened his Arizona career with a 30-point performance against defending national champion Florida, a breakout outing that captured attention nationally. Over the season he averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds while appearing in a lineup that lost only three times; one of those defeats included a game against Texas Tech in which he left early with a leg injury. Peat arrived at Arizona with a decorated youth resume, including four gold medals from USA Basketball junior teams, and his rapid impact as a freshman — including leading the Wildcats in scoring during March Madness victories — was a key component of the program’s Final Four run.
Reflecting on his time at Arizona after the season, Peat called his single year with the Wildcats “super special,” citing the experience of representing his home state, making the Final Four and working under the staff. “It was super special to be from Arizona, go there, take them to a Final Four, the first one in 25 years,” he said. He also singled out head coach Tommy Lloyd and assistant TJ Benson — “that’s my guy, to be in the gym with him every day. He really helped me a lot with my development and just becoming a better man on and off the court.” Those remarks underlined the personal and professional ties Peat built in Tucson during a season that raised his profile among NBA personnel.
The NBA is expected to publish an official list of college players who withdrew prior to the deadline, and Peat’s name will not appear among them. With his decision finalized, the freshman forward remains in this summer’s draft pool and will be evaluated further by teams as they sort through workouts, interviews and private workouts in the months before the draft. Arizona’s roster planning will proceed accordingly as the program pursues additions and development to replace the minutes and production he provided.
Arizona forward Koa Peat (No. 10) soars for a dunk during a Wildcats game — the freshman has chosen to remain in the 2026 NBA Draft pool.
Koa Peat gestures on the court in his Arizona uniform; the guard/forward’s decision to stay in the 2026 draft remains the focus for NBA scouts.