After beating fourth-seeded Arkansas 109-88, top-seeded Arizona will take on No. 2 seed Purdue in the Elite Eight tonight at 8:49 p.m. ET at the SAP Center in San Jose.
One of the best players on the Arizona Wildcats this season has been Koa Peat, a 6-foot-8 freshman forward. For a player who will most likely declare for the 2026 NBA Draft, here is how Peat falls in line with other prospects.
Koa Peat’s Performance Throughout the 2025-26 Season
Before committing to Arizona, Peat was a five-star prospect according to 247Sports. He ranked nationally as the eighth-best prospect, the fourth-best power forward, and the No. 1 overall prospect from Arizona. Along with Arizona, he received offers from other tournament teams, including Michigan, Houston, North Carolina, Baylor, and Duke.
It didn’t take long for Peat to make his name known in college basketball, putting on a stellar performance in the team’s season opener against the defending national champion, the Florida Gators. Arizona won the game 93-87 behind his 30 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
MARCH MADNESS: Fill In Your Bracket Now!
Over the course of the season, Peat has averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks while shooting 53.9% from the field, 31.6% from 3-point range, and 61.9% from the free-throw line. He also made the 2025-26 All-Big 12 Third Team and 2025-26 Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
In the team’s Sweet 16 victory against Arkansas, he put up 21 points, three rebounds, and two assists while shooting 72.7% from the field. He will look to carry his hot hand into tonight’s game against Purdue.
How Koa Peat Compares to Other 2026 NBA Draft Prospects
Coming into the season, Peat entered college basketball as one of the most physically ready and skilled forwards, regardless of class. Additionally, he has used his strength, coordination, and agility to make an impact at both ends of the floor, despite standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 235 pounds.
Offensively, it is clear that Peat has all the tools to excel inside the arc, considering he shot 55.2% from 2-point territory. Using his physicality, he can finish inside, but he clearly struggles from 3-point range.
As previously mentioned, he shoots 31.6% from 3-point territory, making it one of the weakest parts of his game compared to other prospects. Another skill he needs to work on is his free-throw shooting, because he struggles and shoots just 61.9%.
MORE: Kentucky Guard Entering Transfer Portal After Wildcats’ Second-Round Loss in NCAA Tournament
Although he averaged less than a block and a steal per game, Peat is still a dependable defender. He can read plays quickly, defend multiple positions because of his size, and rebound well. At the next level, he should fit well into team systems and be able to contribute right away.
In PFSN’s NBA Mock Draft Simulator, Peat ranks as the 16th-best prospect but could fall anywhere inside the lottery, outside of the top five picks. At only 19 years old, Peat has value as a developmental player that NBA teams will look to turn into a two-way star.
