With top college basketball players making well into the seven figures, it’s never been more tempting for underclassmen to return to school.
Could Arizona’s Koa Peat be the next notable college player to return for more year? Some NBA teams think so, according to the most recent NBA mock draft from ESPN’s Jeremy Woo.
ESPN projects Peat falling to the No. 24 pick held by the New York Knicks. Arizona guard Brayden Burries is projected to go No. 9 to the Chicago Bulls.
While Peat didn’t specify in his
draft declaration post that he is maintaining eligibility during the predraft process, it’s widely assumed that Peat is keeping the window open to return to Arizona for a sophomore year.
Some NBA teams see Peat as a player who would benefit from a second year in college, according to Woo.
“Peat opted to declare for the draft and has an opportunity to play his way up the boards with a strong predraft process. Some teams viewed him as an excellent candidate to return to school and improve his stock, an option that remains available to him,” Woo wrote.
NBA scouts view Peat’s perimeter shooting as a “critical area” that will impact his professional career, Woo wrote. Peat attempted just 20 three-pointers as a freshman, making seven.
Peat averaged 14.1 points per game. He shot 53.8% on two-pointers and 62.3% from the free throw line.
Woo added that Peat’s “strength and quickness relative to his size, coupled with a solid offensive feel and ability to guard the perimeter, give him a chance to find a niche in the right situation.”
As a late first-round draft pick, Peat could make somewhere between $2.5-$3 million as a rookie. While that’s a lot of money, it’s not a significant difference from what he could potentially if he returns to Arizona.
The shifting landscape of NIL has led to a historically small NBA Draft early entrant class, with only 71 underclassmen declaring.
Arizona notably hasn’t filled Peat’s position through the transfer portal. Arizona returns starters Ivan Kharchenkov and center Motiejus Krivas, adds guard transfers Derek Dixon (North Carolina) and JJ Mandaquit (Washington) and brings in freshmen Caleb Holt and Cameron Holmes.
Arizona could wait on Peat to make a decision whether to stay in the draft or return to college. The deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the draft and return to school is May 27.
Waiting comes with a risk, however. If Arizona opts to wait for Peat and not replace his spot in the portal only for Peat to remain in the draft, Tommy Lloyd and Co. could be working from behind come late spring.
