Koa Peat

Upperclass · Post #41 » by **Upperclass** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 3:20 am

azcatz11 wrote:
BigGargamel wrote:I still don't really know what this guy gives you. He's a good player but....? I'm at a loss for words.

I do think he'd be a good pick by Charlotte with their first pick. They have a ton of shooters. Get a guy in there to score some dirty buckets and rough guys up. Peat is strong.

He’s an awful shooter. He’s a more athletic Yaxel without the 3 ball

Exactly this. He is probably a better version and could endup Tobias Harris longterm depending on his development.

JMAC3 · Post #42 » by **JMAC3** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 12:57 pm

Koa is averaging 14.1 ppg as a freshman without having any bankable offensive skills. That also kind of means something to me.

Upperclass · Post #43 » by **Upperclass** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 1:07 pm

Right now I would say he projects to be a Brandon Clarke

JMAC3 · Post #44 » by **JMAC3** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 1:43 pm

Upperclass wrote:Right now I would say he projects to be a Brandon Clarke

Brandon Clarke was a 23 year old rookie who had his best season ever as rookie and never improved. I doubt that Koa Pete is anything like him.

JMAC3 · Post #45 » by **JMAC3** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 1:52 pm

Dude is operating as the #1 option on the best team in the country as a freshman, probably a bit underrated if we are honest.

21 pts vs Houston in Big12 champ game, most fga on team
21 pts vs Arkansas, tied for most FGA on team.
20 pts vs Purdue, most FGA on the team.

That is probably their 3 most important games all year and he has been huge.

JMAC3 · Post #46 » by **JMAC3** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 1:55 pm

Arizona has also lost 2 games all year, 1 in which Koa was awful 2/11 from field vs Kansas...
The other, he got hurt and left after 11 mins played and Kansas lost in OT to Texas Tech.

Pretty strong indicator of impact to me.

Upperclass · Post #47 » by **Upperclass** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 4:20 pm

^ Possibly RE Clarke being an older prospect with a capped ceiling.. however their college stats outside of blocks are similar (Peat doesnt get steals or blocks but causes alot of player turnovers defensively); Peats offensive stats are far less efficient comparatively.. they also play exactly the same with the ball, as most of his buckets are coming off of layups and push shots within 5 feet of the hoop. The longest shot he took vs Purdue was a missed freethrow area J.

DirtyDez · Post #48 » by **DirtyDez** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 4:59 pm

JMAC3 wrote:Dude is operating as the #1 option on the best team in the country as a freshman, probably a bit underrated if we are honest.

21 pts vs Houston in Big12 champ game, most fga on team
21 pts vs Arkansas, tied for most FGA on team.
20 pts vs Purdue, most FGA on the team.

That is probably their 3 most important games all year and he has been huge.

Bradley and Burries are 1 and 1a for Arizona but Koa has been balling when it matters most.

BigGargamel · Post #49 » by **BigGargamel** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 5:12 pm

JMAC3 wrote:Koa is averaging 14.1 ppg as a freshman without having any bankable offensive skills. That also kind of means something to me.

Well, this is the dilemma I have. He's a very good player, that's clear to see. But it's hard to project a player at the NBA level if he does not have a clear identifiable skill.

I think he'll be valuable though, but I don't know how yet. I'm interested to see how he develops. He's talented and works hard.

Post #50 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 12:17 am

JMAC3 wrote:Arizona has also lost 2 games all year, 1 in which Koa was awful 2/11 from field vs Kansas...
The other, he got hurt and left after 11 mins played and Kansas lost in OT to Texas Tech.

Pretty strong indicator of impact to me.

The guy is just a winner. He won 4 straight HS Championships in AZ. And yes, best player on best team in nation. If you strictly just look at stats, measurables, steals, etc, on paper he doesn't look as impressive.

But you watch him bruise inside, come up clutch when needed to in games and take over if needed, he kind of has that IT factor. I don't know if you call it an intangible for winning or what. But his teams don't lose much, and like you said, he had a bad game in one loss, and left early in their other one.

Upperclass · Post #51 » by **Upperclass** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 1:52 am

bwgood77 wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:Arizona has also lost 2 games all year, 1 in which Koa was awful 2/11 from field vs Kansas...
The other, he got hurt and left after 11 mins played and Kansas lost in OT to Texas Tech.

Pretty strong indicator of impact to me.

The guy is just a winner. He won 4 straight HS Championships in AZ. And yes, best player on best team in nation. If you strictly just look at stats, measurables, steals, etc, on paper he doesn't look as impressive.

But you watch him bruise inside, come up clutch when needed to in games and take over if needed, he kind of has that IT factor. I don't know if you call it an intangible for winning or what. But his teams don't lose much, and like you said, he had a bad game in one loss, and left early in their other one.

Completely agree.. He knows how to be in the right spots constantly.. Maybe he turns into Shane Battier if his shot ever comes around

Cammo101 · Post #52 » by **Cammo101** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 3:23 am

Boozer gets nightly posts talking about how his lack of athleticism is fine because his BBIQ and competitiveness are what makes him stand out. Meanwhile Koa Peat is essentially the same archetype, but not getting any of the passes Boozer gets. Is Peat as good as Boozer? No. But if Boozer can make it in the NBA, so to can Peat IMO.

Caneman786 · Post #53 » by **Caneman786** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 3:58 am

bwgood77 wrote:The guy is just a winner. He won 4 straight HS Championships in AZ. And yes, best player on best team in nation. If you strictly just look at stats, measurables, steals, etc, on paper he doesn't look as impressive.

But you watch him bruise inside, come up clutch when needed to in games and take over if needed, he kind of has that IT factor. I don't know if you call it an intangible for winning or what. But his teams don't lose much, and like you said, he had a bad game in one loss, and left early in their other one.

Winning four straight HS championships?

Boozer of the West

Post #54 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 4:12 am

Upperclass wrote:
bwgood77 wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:Arizona has also lost 2 games all year, 1 in which Koa was awful 2/11 from field vs Kansas...
The other, he got hurt and left after 11 mins played and Kansas lost in OT to Texas Tech.

Pretty strong indicator of impact to me.

The guy is just a winner. He won 4 straight HS Championships in AZ. And yes, best player on best team in nation. If you strictly just look at stats, measurables, steals, etc, on paper he doesn't look as impressive.

But you watch him bruise inside, come up clutch when needed to in games and take over if needed, he kind of has that IT factor. I don't know if you call it an intangible for winning or what. But his teams don't lose much, and like you said, he had a bad game in one loss, and left early in their other one.

Completely agree.. He knows how to be in the right spots constantly.. Maybe he turns into Shane Battier if his shot ever comes around

I actually thought of Battier when typing that because I know teams in college and the NBA were always better with him on the floor. But Koa feels like a lot more of an alpha dog than him. Battier, at least in the NBA, was more of a role player. But it could be. Battier was a 4 year college player though and wasn't really great his first two years, but I guess Koa probably won't be an alpha or top 2 player on a team. I was trying to think of comps. I saw Randle mentioned, and maybe, before Randle became more of a passer. I thought of early Siakam or Bam or somewhere in between. Those guys are different though...and obviously got very very good after a few years.

Upperclass · Post #55 » by **Upperclass** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:05 am

^ Yeah in the league I would say he seems more of a glue, utility player vs a main scorer; A marion, aaron gordon, battier type; in college Battier in particular was a tier 1 (2001 POY)

JMAC3 · Post #56 » by **JMAC3** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 4:39 pm

I do agree that Boozer is a better prospect than Koa, and even a better pro from day 1 because Boozer has the bankable outside shooting and a better ft%. However, one is also getting talked about as #1 pick and the other has a lot more mixed feelings as top 10, lottery, top 20, maybe a guy that should return.

I think Koa could end up being just as good long term for a lot less cost. It would be interesting if Koa was on a team that built the offense solely around him like Boozer, but that is really the opposite- Arizona has 6 guys that can eat any given night. Which you could make argument both helps and hurts Koa in terms of stats/bpm/efficiency etc..

JMAC3 · Post #57 » by **JMAC3** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 4:42 pm

DirtyDez wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:Dude is operating as the #1 option on the best team in the country as a freshman, probably a bit underrated if we are honest.

21 pts vs Houston in Big12 champ game, most fga on team
21 pts vs Arkansas, tied for most FGA on team.
20 pts vs Purdue, most FGA on the team.

That is probably their 3 most important games all year and he has been huge.

Bradley and Burries are 1 and 1a for Arizona but Koa has been balling when it matters most.

Per100 possesions Koa leads them in FGA.
He is also #1 in usage on the team.

I would say both kind of show he is in contention for #1 option, even if the argument isn't he is the best player on the team.

vincecarter4pres · Post #58 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 9:02 pm

What does his ceiling look like if he improves his 3 and increases his confidence and aggression?

Are we looking at a Danny Granger type?

CP War Hawks · Post #59 » by **CP War Hawks** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 11:48 pm

Rich mans Hachimara? more so on defensive impact?

The-Power · Post #60 » by **The-Power** » Tue Mar 31, 2026 7:28 am

vincecarter4pres wrote:What does his ceiling look like if he improves his 3 and increases his confidence and aggression?

Are we looking at a Danny Granger type?

I still like current Aaron Gordon as a comparison if Peat's shot comes around.

Similar size and length, strong built, athletic, good passing instincts, positive and versatile defender despite low stock numbers.