Perry basketball All-American Koa Peat announces college commitment to Arizona on ESPN
Gilbert Perry senior forward Koa Peat, one of the nation's most highly recruited high school players, will play college basketball at the University of Arizona.
Peat made the long-awaited announcement Thursday morning on the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN via a video link with his mom sitting behind him, thanking his teammates, Perry school officials and his coaches, among others.
He made the announcement while unzipping a hoodie and unveiling an Arizona t-shirt.
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"I just felt Arizona was the right situation for me. Coach Tommy (Lloyd) is a great coach, they have great assistant coaches there for my development and they're a winning program,'' he said.
Arizona plays Duke tonight in the Sweet 16.
Peat, a 6-foot-8 five-star recruit, chose the Wildcats over the other finalists Arizona State,Baylor, Houston and Texas.
The senior had identified his five final college choices months ago but held off making a commitment announcement until Thursday.
He averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for the four-time state champions this season, playing his final two games with a fractured shooting hand earlier this month.
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"He is a 6 foot 8 monster. Do we follow high school hoops that closely? No. But I will say, as soon as I was introduced to this guy's highlights and then his family lineage, it's like, this is a dog,'' McAfee said in the show's opening.
A week after suffering the injury in practice, he had 16 points off the bench in an Open state semifinal 76-57 win over Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor. Starting in the state championship game, a 63-44 rout of Phoenix Sunnyslope, Peat had 20 points, making his only 3-point attempt, nine rebounds and two blocked shot.
Peat recently won his third straight Gatorade Arizona Basketball Player of the Year honor, after leading the Pumas to a fourth straight state championship, third in a row in the 32-team Open Division.
He won three gold medals playing for Team USA in summer international competition that last three years.
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This season, he averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 blocks. He finished his four-year varsity career with 2,154 points.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Perry basketball All-American Koa Peat announces commitment to Arizona
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