Koa Peat is on most school basketball skilled’s shortlist for Freshman of the Yr after a blazing eight-game begin for the new No. 1 Arizona.
His household’s deep athletic background has been an enormous a part of his meteoric rise in NCAA Division I play, and Peat stated he expects “all people” to be in attendance when the Wildcats tackle San Diego State in Phoenix for the Corridor of Fame Sequence on Dec. 20.
“My coaches, my household, all people shall be down there supporting me,” Peat stated on a Thursday Zoom name. “To have my household proper there down the road, solely like an hour-thirty drive for them to come back up, come down, no matter. … That’s actually particular for me.”
Peat stated his brother Keona, at present a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman for Arizona soccer, has been to each dwelling recreation to this point and he’ll be on the Phoenix Suns’ dwelling, Mortgage Matchup Heart.
The star Wildcat shall be grateful if any one in every of his six older siblings will be within the stands, however nobody member of the family is extra vital for his physique’s gas than Peat’s mom, Jana.
Peat stated she typically cooks up what’s affectionately referred to as “Granny’s soup” at any time when she visits him in Tucson.
As for what makes it particular?
“Potatoes, I don’t even know, I couldn’t inform you,” Peat stated with a smile. “I’d should ask my mother.”
It makes Peat completely satisfied and has contributed to his team-leading 15.9 factors per recreation, in order that’s all that issues.
The one knock on Peat to date, within the eyes of coach Tommy Lloyd, has been the 6-foot-8 freshman’s means to constantly rebound. He’s pulled down 5.5 per recreation solely behind 6-foot-8 Tobe Awaka (10) and 7-foot-2 Motiejus Krivas (7.9).
“I believe it’s simply an effort factor, reducing out, ensuring I’m boxing out after which stepping into pursuing the rebounds,” Peat stated. “It’s one thing I believe I’ve finished good all through my profession, I simply obtained to hone in on it and provides that additional effort kinda like Tobe does and Mo.”
Peat added that, whereas offensive glass work is vital (he has 19 offensive boards by means of eight video games), coming down with defensive boards is the important thing for him to start out transitions and get opponents on their heels.
Arizona and Peat shall be centered on their fifth recreation in opposition to an AP High 25 opponent on Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, because the No. 12 Alabama Crimson Tide await.
Within the Wildcats’ first 4 video games in opposition to ranked groups, Peat has had his greatest stuff, with 71 factors on 28-of-48 taking pictures (58.3%), 27 rebounds and 13 assists. He had two or fewer turnovers in all however a type of video games — six versus then-No. 15 UCLA.
No efficiency was extra putting than the season-opener in opposition to the reigning nationwide champion Florida, as Peat turned the primary participant in Massive 12 historical past to have at the very least 30 factors and 5 assists of their school debut.
Peat isn’t any stranger to Corridor of Fame-sponsored video games, because the four-time state champion performed in Hoophall Classics since his freshman yr at Gilbert Perry Excessive College.
Arizona-San Diego State suggestions off at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 and will be seen on ESPN2.
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