Koa Peat is continuing his pre-draft process with scheduled workouts for the Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies, according to NBA insider Evan Sidery, who reported the update on Thursday, June 4. The development comes after Peat opted to remain in the 2026 NBA Draft rather than return to Arizona.
Sidery also noted that Peat’s current draft projection sits in the mid-to-late first round range. That positioning places him in a competitive tier of forwards in a draft class widely viewed as one of the deepest in recent memory.
During his freshman season at Arizona in 2025–26, Peat appeared in 36 games, starting all of them and averaging 27.8 minutes per contest. He posted 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 52.8 percent from the field.
His efficiency around the basket stood out, with strong finishing numbers inside the arc and steady production on limited three-point volume. The combination of physicality, rebounding, and passing from the forward spot has kept him on the radar of playoff-leaning franchises.
Charlotte holds the No. 14 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, while Memphis owns multiple first-round selections, including the No. 3 overall pick and additional picks later in the round. Both teams are positioned to evaluate forwards who can contribute early in rotation roles.
Peat’s decision to stay in the draft instead of returning to college has accelerated his evaluation phase, with teams using private workouts to assess how his game translates to NBA spacing and defensive assignments.
As the draft approaches on June 23–24 at Barclays Center in New York, Peat remains one of the notable freshman forwards tracking toward a mid-first-round selection, with his workout performances likely to influence late movement on draft boards.
