UNC Basketball 'Point Forward' Target Stands Out in Phoenix

Duke and UNC basketball recruiters remain in the hunt for five-star talent Koa Peat.

It's been roughly three months since Perry High School (Ariz.) junior sensation Koa Peat named the top 10 in his recruitment, including both the UNC basketball program and rival Tobacco Road blueblood Duke. There hasn't been much recent chatter about how his suitors stack up in the high-profile race. And no insiders have entered a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction.

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Meanwhile, though, Peat has been anything but quiet when it comes to demonstrating to the public time and again why he sits so high on premier programs' wishlists.

Blessed to be the Arizona Gatorade Player Of The Year for a second time! Super big thank you to my teammates and coaches, without them I don’t win this award 🤞🏾. Glory be the God. #back2back pic.twitter.com/AFTHA5oINj

— Koa Seward Peat (@kpeat10) March 21, 2024

Over the weekend, the 6-foot-8, 235-pound five-star, an agile bruiser who is the son of former NFL offensive lineman Todd Peat Sr. and ranks No. 5 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, was a standout among the 66 invited prospects at the USA Basketball Junior National Team Minicamp in Phoenix.

Listing Koa Peat No. 2 among the overall top performers at the showcase, On3's Jamie Shaw provided the following assessment of the 17-year-old's game:

"Peat played confidently, and with that came his typical production. Peat is a very good area rebounder, and he pushes the break with control and his head up. [He] probes the open floor well and can step into his jump shot to create opportunities in the half-court. Peat has a unique game, comfortable as a point-forward with the ball in his hands making decisions.

"He will need to continue shoring up his jump shot, and there are questions of his quick-twitch athleticism. There is no denying the overall production that Peat continues to show at every level."

Welcome to MagicLand 🖤💛
Koa Peat @kpeat10
🎥 @StageCircuit @rj_arvizu @iJustWill @PeyHeyrani @coachpeat @leilanipeat @AndrusPeat @DreDay_RV_Zoo @isaacudoema @niquedunning @lyneyaaa @aswright93 @DougJoseph @TheeCoachBreeze @LutherWaters @jeff_trepagnier @tetuck @GilsArenaShow pic.twitter.com/vhJGZs4F2X

— Compton Magic (@Compton_Magic) March 30, 2024

Outside of the Tar Heels and Blue Devils, the remaining contenders for his services are Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Houston, Kentucky, Michigan, Texas, and UCLA. UNC head coach Hubert Davis, currently targeting nine 2025 recruits and still waiting for his first commitment in the cycle, extended an offer to Peat about this same time last year.

He's taken three official visits thus far. One was to Chapel Hill in November, coinciding with the UNC basketball home win over Lehigh.

Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI for more UNC basketball recruiting news.