Despite the transfer portal and NBA Draft early entry windows both having closed over the past week, the Arizona Wildcats don't have much more clarity about their remaining recruiting needs this spring.
On Friday, freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat both posted formal declarations that they will enter the NBA Draft. But while Burries is expected to stay in the draft because he is a projected lottery pick, Peats projection later in the first round is an area where some prospects are now returning to college with seven-figure NIL deals in hand.
Arizona forward Koa Peat, left, forward Ivan Kharchenkov, center, and guard Brayden Burries team up for a video after their 101-76 win over Kansas State in the Big 12, Jan. 7, 2026, in 做厙勛圖.
Meanwhile, center Motiejus Krivas and forward Ivan Kharchenkov are still expected to return to the Wildcats. Neither issued a formal statement before the NBA Draft early entry deadline passed Friday, though it is possible either could test the predraft process while signing a return deal to Arizona as guard Jaden Bradley did last spring.
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The NBA will likely release its official list of early draft entrants early this week. A year ago, Bradley made no formal declaration, though his name appeared on the NBA's early entry list and its withdrawal list later in the spring.
This time, Bradley is out of eligibility, so he'll join at least Burries and Peat in a predraft process that could include an appearance in the May 10-17 NBA Combine in Chicago.
Players who opt to return to college basketball have until May 24 to withdraw from the draft, and they no longer need to say before the draft if they are keeping their eligibility to return open, since only signing an NBA contract is a barrier to a return under current standards.
In their Instagram posts Friday, Peat and Burries both said it was a dream to play in the NBA while thanking those around them and Wildcat fans.
"Playing for the University of Arizona has been an incredible blessing and something I'll always be grateful for," said Peat, a native of the Phoenix area. "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 of 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.
Burries responded to Peats post by saying Go be great brudda," then posted his own announcement about four hours later.
"Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of playing in the NBA and building a long career," Burries posted. "Now that opportunity is right in front of me. Growing up in San Bernardino (Calif.) and the Inland Empire, not many people get this chance so I don't take it for granted."
Normally a player of few words during interviews, Burries posted several paragraphs of thanks to his family, coaches from all of his teams and clinics plus UA, 做厙勛圖 and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd. Burries also said he has been guided by understanding that the game is bigger than him.
"You've got to have multiple 'whys,'" Burries said. "One of mine is to inspire the next generation and show them that anything is possible if you stay dedicated and embrace both the highs and the lows."
In the most recent updated mock NBA Drafts, Burries is projected to be taken between No. 5 () and No. 11 (). ESPN has him No. 10 on its "big board" of , while projects Burries at No. 8 and The Athletic has him at No. 10.
The Ringer called Burries a tireless two-way guard with a broad range of impacts and few weaknesses, even as there are questions about whether he will be a combo guard or evolve into a point guard in the NBA.
He's not elite in any one area, but he proved himself as a multifaceted contributor who's comfortable on and off the ball and adds value defensively and on the glass, wrote ESPNs Jeremy Woo. Scouts feel Burries' upside scenarios revolve around whether he develops into more of a full-time ball handler, with his frame playing up better in that role than on the wing.
Sharpening his handle and playmaking skills in the long run will be crucial to making that work, with his style of play more reliant on strength and craft than explosive athleticism.
Arizona guard Brayden Burries (5) grabs the rebound and looks to pass as hes defended by Iowa State in the first half during a game at McKale Center on March 2, 2026.
The Athletics Sam Vecenie wrote that NBA teams think of Burries as a good power guard but worry about him separating from his man consistently in the NBA, while also noting his quick hands and rebounding ability. At just 6-4, Burries trailed only post players Peat, Krivas and Tobe Awaka among the Wildcats top rebounders with an average of 4.9 per game.
Burries struggled in UA's big early-season wins over Florida, UCLA and UConn, while Lloyd said he simply needed more "at-bats" to help him adjust to the high-major college game. Then Burries broke out with 28 points against Alabama in mid-December and wound up leading the Wildcats in scoring with an average of 16.1 points.
Burries scored 20 or more points in six games during February and March, and he hit 4 of 7 3-pointers to help the Wildcats beat Purdue 79-64 in the NCAA West Regional final to reach their first Final Four since 2001.
While Burries developed into UAs top offensive threat as the season went on, Peat made a splash right away. He collected 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists against defending national champion Florida in his first college game.
Peat 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.
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 UAs 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.
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) puts up a shot in a lane full of Wolverines in the second half of a Final Four game against Michigan in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 4, 2026.
In the updated mock NBA drafts, Peat is projected to land between No. 11 (The Athletic) and No. 29 (). Yahoo moved Peat up from 26th to 17th 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 was slotted for a guaranteed two-year deal worth between $2.8 to $5.5 million for the first year.
NIL compensation for players projected in the 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.
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."
UA has been moving to fill Peat's place at power forward, likely either via international recruiting or the transfer portal, though Lloyd said last week he would have a conversation with Peat if he said he was interested in returning.
Assuming Burries and Peat both stay in the draft, and both Krivas and Kharchenkov return, the Wildcats had four returnees and eight total scholarship players lined up for next season as of Friday, including returning redshirts Mabil Mawut and Bryce James.
Arizonas spring roster transition
As of Friday
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
G Caleb Holt | 6-5 | 200 | freshman
F Cameron Holmes | 6-6 | 205 | freshman
G Derek Dixon | 6-5 | 200 | sophomore
G JJ Mandaquit | 6-1 | 201 | sophomore
Expected departures
G Jaden Bradley | 6-3 | 205 (declared for NBA Draft)
F Tobe Awaka | 6-9 | 250 (out of eligibility*)
F Anthony DellOrso | 6-6 | 190 (out of eligibility*)
G Brayden Burries | 6-4 | 190 (declared for NBA Draft)
F Koa Peat | 6-8 | 235 (declared for NBA Draft)
F Dwayne Aristode | 6-8 | 215 | (in transfer portal)
F Sidi Gueye | 6-11 | 215 | (transferring to Santa Clara)
G 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
Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe
Bruce Pascoe
Reporter
