Koa Peat’s NBA Draft decision leaves Arizona facing a major new challenge originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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For weeks, Koa Peat left the door cracked open for a possible return to the University of Arizona. Even after a shaky NBA Draft Combine performance created questions about his stock, there was still hope in Tucson that the former five-star recruit could decide one more college season would benefit his long-term future.
That hope officially disappeared Wednesday night. According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Peat will remain in the 2026 NBA Draft and officially end his college career after one season with the Arizona Wildcats. The decision immediately changes the trajectory of Arizona’s offseason and leaves head coach Tommy Lloyd scrambling to replace one of the biggest pieces of last season’s Final Four team.
And while Peat’s freshman season was not flawless, his departure creates a massive hole for a roster that was already replacing major production.
Arizona loses more than just points and rebounds
Peat averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while helping Arizona win the Big 12 regular-season and conference tournament championships. He also elevated his game when the stakes were highest. During the NCAA Tournament, Peat looked far more like the projected first-round talent NBA scouts envisioned coming out of high school. He averaged 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds across five tournament games, including 20 points against Purdue in the Elite Eight and a double-double in Arizona’s Final Four loss to Michigan.
That stretch reminded everyone why Peat was once viewed as a potential top-10 NBA Draft pick. But his pre-draft process complicated things. At the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Peat’s shooting became one of the biggest storylines among scouts and executives. His mechanics looked noticeably different than they did during the season, featuring a lower release point and slower motion. The results were rough.
Peat reportedly shot just 6-for-25 in the spot-up shooting drill and 7-for-25 in the 3-point star drill, among the worst performances recorded at the combine. Still, Peat made it clear he believed the long-term upside outweighed the short-term concerns.
“Trying to work on that as much as I can,” Peat told ESPN at the combine. “I feel like that breakthrough is going to come soon.”
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Tommy Lloyd now faces his biggest roster question of the offseason
Arizona already knew major roster turnover was coming. Lottery pick Brayden Burries and Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley are gone, forcing Tommy Lloyd to aggressively rebuild the backcourt through recruiting and the transfer portal. The Wildcats responded by landing transfers Derek Dixon and JJ Mandaquit while also bringing in elite freshman recruit Caleb Holt.
But Peat’s decision creates a different type of problem. Arizona now lacks an obvious high-level frontcourt scorer next to returning starters Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas. Peat’s versatility allowed Arizona to play multiple styles offensively, and replacing that combination of size, athleticism and physicality will not be easy late in the offseason.
Fortunately for Arizona, one major option suddenly emerged Wednesday. Former Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic withdrew from the NBA Draft and instantly became one of the most coveted players remaining in the transfer portal.
Arizona has reportedly been monitoring Momcilovic for weeks, and it is easy to understand why. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 16.9 points last season while leading the country with 136 made 3-pointers and shooting nearly 49 percent from beyond the arc. His skill set is dramatically different from Peat’s, but he could immediately solve Arizona’s biggest offensive concern — perimeter shooting.
Koa Peat leaves behind complicated NBA Draft questions
Peat’s draft outlook remains one of the more fascinating evaluations in the entire class. Some scouts still view him as a potential late first-round steal because of his toughness, defensive instincts and ability to impact games physically. Others remain concerned about how his offense translates to the NBA if the perimeter shot never fully develops.
That uncertainty explains why Peat has appeared anywhere from the late lottery to the second round in recent mock drafts. Still, the overall résumé remains difficult to ignore. Peat won four state championships in high school, captured three gold medals with USA Basketball and immediately became a key contributor for a Final Four team as a freshman. Players with that level of winning pedigree tend to keep getting opportunities.
Arizona fans understandably hoped they would get one more season watching Peat develop in Tucson. Instead, Tommy Lloyd now enters the next phase of roster construction knowing one of the program’s most important building blocks is officially moving on. And with the offseason clock continuing to move quickly, Arizona suddenly has very little room for error.
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