Arizona's Koa Peat declares for draft, Brayden Burries makes late call
Story by
Arizona's Koa Peat declares for draft, Brayden Burries makes late call
Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic·AZCentral | The Arizona Republic
·
2 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Just how many pieces will Tommy Lloyd have back from his Big 12 championship and Final Four team?
The picture is getting clearer.
Perry High graduate Koa Peat, a 6-foot-8 freshman forward, declared for the draft Friday, April 24, 10 or so hours before the deadline to do so. That was not a surprise, as he was considered a one-and-done even before playing his first game for the Wildcats.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Peat averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He averaged 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament and was named Most Outstanding Player in the West Regional.
Junior center Motiejus Krivas and freshman forward Ivan Kharchenkov were 50-50 to do so, but neither had declared hours ahead of the 9 p.m. MST deadline.
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) lines up a shot in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) shoots the ball in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd reacts in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) shoots the ball over Colorado Buffaloes forward Bangot Dak (8) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) controls the ball in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Colorado Buffaloes forward Bangot Dak (8) defends on Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) shoots the ball over Colorado Buffaloes center Elijah Malone (50) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Colorado Buffaloes forward Bangot Dak (8) defends on Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Colorado Buffaloes center Elijah Malone (50) defends on Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) shoots the ball over Colorado Buffaloes center Elijah Malone (50) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Colorado Buffaloes center Elijah Malone (50), Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) and forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) reach for the ball in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) and Colorado Buffaloes forward Bangot Dak (8) reach for the tip off in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
1/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) lines up a shot in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
1/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) lines up a shot in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
2/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) shoots the ball in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
3/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd reacts in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
4/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) shoots the ball over Colorado Buffaloes forward Bangot Dak (8) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
5/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) controls the ball in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
6/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Colorado Buffaloes forward Bangot Dak (8) defends on Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
7/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) shoots the ball over Colorado Buffaloes center Elijah Malone (50) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
8/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Colorado Buffaloes forward Bangot Dak (8) defends on Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
9/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Colorado Buffaloes center Elijah Malone (50) defends on Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
10/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) shoots the ball over Colorado Buffaloes center Elijah Malone (50) in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
11/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Colorado Buffaloes center Elijah Malone (50), Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) and forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) reach for the ball in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
12/12
Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game at Colorado in Boulder
Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) and Colorado Buffaloes forward Bangot Dak (8) reach for the tip off in the first half at the CU Events Center in Boulder, on March 7, 2026.
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
Freshman guard Brayden Burries waited until the deadline-day afternoon to indicate his intention to enter the NBA draft. Like Peat, he was considered a sure thing to head to the NBA. Burries averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, highlighted by a 23-point showing against Arkansas in the Wildcats' Sweet 16 win.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Senior guard Jaden Bradley, who has had a knack for making clutch shots, declared for the draft, although he was out of eligibility unless the NCAA granted him a fifth year, which has been discussed.
Arizona's roster will look considerably different come the winter.
Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell'Orso are also out of eligibility, while freshman forwards Sidi Gueye and Dwayne Aristode have entered the transfer portal.
Arizona is coming off a season in which it finished 36-3, winning the Big 12 regular-season title, as well as the conference tournament title. The Wildcats marched to the NCAA semifinal before losing to Michigan, 91-73, on April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
