By Jacob Seliga
Lead Writer
Arguably the best high school basketball player in Arizona history has officially made his college decision.
Live on the Pat McAfee Show in front of a national audience, Perry High School senior Koa Peat announced his intentions to play college basketball at the University of Arizona
Peat narrowed down his options to five schools in November, with Arizona State, Baylor, Houston and Texas also making the cut. But he ultimately landed on the in-state school just an hour-and-a-half south of his high school gym.
“It was a super hard decision,” Peat told McAfee. “Myself and my parents had really serious talks about it. I just felt like Arizona was the right situation for me. Coach Tommy (Lloyd) is a great coach and they have great assistant coaches over there for my development. And they’re a winning program.
“I’m excited to come down and play at McKale.”
Earlier this month, Peat capped off his high school career with his fourth straight state championship, with this one being the most rewarding.
Prior to the Pumas Open Division quarterfinal game, Peat suffered a broken hand during a practice drill.
An injury that typically ends seasons only kept him out for the Pumas’ quarterfinal matchup against Ironwood, as he played both the semifinals against O’Connor and the state championship against Sunnyslope with a rubber cast on his hand.
With his fourth championship, Peat joined a very small list of players in the history of the state to win four titles in their career.
That list includes his brother, Cassius, who won his championships from 2012-2015 at Corona Del Sol high school under the same head coach, Sam Duane Jr.
This year’s state title for the Pumas and Peat was also the last for Duane as the head coach. On Tuesday, March 25, Duane announced he had stepped down from his position at Perry to pursue a district-level position in Mesa Public Schools.
Peat reacted to the news via social media shortly after it was announced, calling Duane “the greatest of all time.”
Also one of the greatest of all time, Peat now heads to college with one of the best high school basketball resumés in the country.
Four time state basketball champion (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Three time Arizona basketball Gatorade Player of the Year (2023, 2024, 2025)
Two time Fiba U17 World Cup Gold medalist (2022, 2024)
Team USA basketball Male athlete of the year (2023)
2025 McDonald’s All-American Game Participant
High school record: 107-15
Record against in-state teams: 93-7
Peat joins four-star small forward Dwayne Aristode and three-star shooting guard Bryce James - the son of LeBron James - as Arizona commits from the 2025 class. The Wildcats remain in contention to land other top recruits, including five-star guard Brayden Burries (Calif.).
He also becomes the latest in a talented list of top Arizona high school prospects who chose to stay home and compete in Tucson.
Some of those on that list include two NBA champions, Moon Valley alum Richard Jefferson and St Mary’s alum Channing Frye, National champion and Shadow Mountain alum Mike Bibby, and another St Mary’s alum turned pro in Jerryd Bayless.
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