Koa Peat NBA mock draft projection: Where Arizona star is expected to land

The 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament is down to its Sweet 16 and we’ll have a Final Four by Sunday evening. For half of the college stars taking the court this weekend, it’s one final opportuniy to impress NBA teams with their play at full game speed when the lights are brightest as this year’s draft class comes into focus.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft, Arizona’s Koa Peat  is expected to go in the first round. Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the forward’s draft night will play out.

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Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Koa Peat 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 12 overall, Portland Trail Blazers

Kalbrosky’s Analysis:

The Portland Trail Blazers have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to the organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro. Arizona plays at a significantly faster pace (4.1 extra possessions) when Peat is on the floor relative to when he is not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Portland’s fast-paced offense.

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See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here

Koa Peat player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

53.7% field goal percentage

31.6% three-point field goal percentage

Portland Trail Blazers 2026 projected draft picks

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Koa Peat NBA mock draft projection: Where Arizona star is expected to land

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/koa-peat-nba-mock-draft-231150328.html

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Publish date : 2026-03-27 23:11:00

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