Forward Koa Peat announced he is declaring for the NBA Draft as expected Friday, the last day players can apply for early entry.
In an Instagram post in which he thanked God, coaches, teammates and Arizona fans, Peat did not say if he would consider a return to UA after going through the predraft process. Peat is projected to be picked near the middle of the first round, an area in which some players are returning to college to sign seven-figure NIL deals.
"Playing for the University of Arizona has been an incredible blessing and something I'll always be grateful for," Peat posted. "Wearing this name and representing where I come from means everything to me. It's been an honor to compete at this level while still being rooted in the place that raised me."
Peat finished his statement by saying that "playing in the NBA has been a dream mine since I was a little kid," and that he went through a lot of thought and conversations with the people closest to him over his decision.
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Among the commenters to the post were UA guard Brayden Burries, who is also expected to declare for the draft.
"Go be great brudda," Burries posted.
UA coach Tommy Lloyd said last week Peat would explore the predraft process.
"Koa came to Arizona, did everything we set out to do, and he's an awesome guy," Lloyd said. "We're gonna give him the space, and I'm gonna let him make his own decision that's best for him. There's going to be no re-recruiting."
Peat is expected to be invited to the May 10-17 NBA Combine in Chicago. If he does keep open the option to return to school, he will have until May 27 at 9 p.m. Arizona time to withdraw if he wants to play another college season.
UA has been moving to fill Peat's place at power forward, likely either via international recruiting or the transfer portal, though Lloyd indicated last week he wouldn't shut the door if Peat somehow changed his mind.
"If Koa calls me and says, 'Coach, I'm interested in coming back, what does it look like?' We'll have a conversation," Lloyd said.
In the updated mock NBA drafts, Peat is projected to land between No. 11 (The Athletic) to No. 29 (NBA Draft.net). Yahoo moved Peat up from 26 to 17 in its latest mock draft, while ESPN ranks Peat at No. 22 on its "big board" of prospects, and The Ringer has Peat going at No. 26.
While the 2026-27 rookie salary scale is not yet set, a player picked between 11-29 last year would receive a guaranteed two-year deal worth between $2.8 to $5.5 million for the first year.
NIL compensation for players projected in latter half of the first round who return to college has been reportedly about the same this spring. That likely prompted the return to UConn of projected first-round pick Braylon Mullins, though there has been no indication UA is in position to pay anybody north of $2 million. The Wildcats had a total roster budget of about $10 million last season.
Expected to play only one season for the Wildcats since signing out of Gilbert Perry High School a year ago, Peat opened his college career by scoring 30 points against defending national champion Florida. He finished the season averaging 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds, staying largely consistent except for when struggling with a lower-leg injury late in the season.
Arizona forward Koa Peat dunks during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament against Purdue on March 28, 2026, in San Jose, Calif.
Peat suffered the injury on Feb. 7 against Oklahoma State, shot just 2 of 11 in the Wildcats’ Feb. 9 loss at Kansas and then left UA’s next game, a Feb. 14 loss to Texas Tech, in the first half. He sat out the Wildcats’ next three games before returning on Feb. 28 against Kansas at McKale Center.
The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23 and 24.
Arizona’s spring roster transition
As of Friday, April 24, 11 a.m.
Expected returners
F Ivan Kharchenkov | 6-7 | 230 | sophomore
C Motiejus Krivas | 7-2 | 260 | senior
F Mabil Mawut | 6-11 | 200 | R-freshman
G Bryce James | 6-5 | 185 | R-freshman
Signed newcomers
Caleb Holt | 6-5 | 200 | freshman
Cameron Holmes | 6-6 | 205 | freshman
Derek Dixon | 6-5 | 200 | sophomore
JJ Mandaquit | 6-1 | 201 | sophomore
Expected departures
Jaden Bradley | 6-3 | 205 (declared for NBA Draft)
Tobe Awaka | 6-9 | 250 (out of eligibility*)
Anthony Dell’Orso | 6-6 | 190 (out of eligibility*)
Brayden Burries | 6-4 | 190 (expected NBA departure)
Koa Peat | 6-8 | 235 (declared for NBA Draft)
Dwayne Aristode | 6-8 | 215 | (in transfer portal)
Sidi Gueye | 6-11 | 215 | (transferring to Santa Clara)
Evan Nelson | 6-2 | 170 (out of eligibility)
* = Under current rules. (Nelson is also out of eligibility under the proposed "five in five" rule since his five-year window is up).
R = Redshirted in 2025-26
