ESPN: Arizona’s Koa Peat and Brayden Burries among top impact newcomers

The top recruits in their respective states, Koa Peat and Brayden Burries are expected to be big pieces for the Arizona Wildcats this season.

BY ERIC MATSUMOTO

Oct 23, 2025, 8:13 AM Updated: 11:27 am

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With three of their top five players in points last season leaving the team, the Arizona Wildcats needed to bring in some players who would make a splash.

They did so by landing 5-star high school recruits Koa Peat and Brayden Burries, the top high school talents in Arizona and California, respectively, according to 247 Sports.

The expectation is that both freshmen play significant and meaningful minutes this season, landing them on ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi’s list of the top 50 impact newcomers.

Peat was 17th in the rankings, the fifth-highest Big 12 player on the list. His size and two-way play set him apart, particularly as a freshman, write Biancardi.

Peat is physically imposing at 6-foot-8 and 235 pounds, defending rebounds, screens and scores with productivity. With a résumé that features four consecutive state championships in high school, he is a fierce competitor who will bring leadership, and he could emerge as the Wildcats’ top scorer.

Burries, meanwhile, was ranked 30th. His offensive abilities pair well with Peat’s size, making a strong pick and role combination for the Wildcats.

With No. 1 offensive option Caleb Love now on the Portland Trail Blazers, the role was there for Burries to slot in.

Burries will have an impact on the offensive end for Tommy Lloyd with his knack for scoring from all spots. A battle-tested guard who understands how to slow down on offense and read the defense, Burries should be a dependable freshman who starts right away.

Both Peat and Burries were named to the MaxPreps All-American First Team in 2025, and both are expected to be large pieces for a Wildcats team ranked 13th in the Associated Press preseason poll.

Former Wildcats ranked back-to-back

Transfer guard KJ Lewis and center Henri Veesaar were the third and fourth leading scorers for the Wildcats last season before both transferring.

Now at Georgetown, Lewis ranked 25th on the list, with Veesaar coming in ranked 26th with North Carolina.

Borzello noted that Veesaar saw improvement in the latter portion of the 2024-25 season and could be even more valuable.

If Veesaar plays like he did over the second half of last season, his ranking — and North Carolina’s No. 25 ranking in the preseason AP poll — could prove to be too low. He hit double figures in seven of eight games this past February and helped turn Arizona’s season around with his size and ability to stretch opposing defenses.