ARIZONA DIGEST

Peat repeats as Gatorade Arizona basketball POY

Koa Peat has been named Gatorade Arizona high school boys basketball Player of the Year for a second straight season after leading Gilbert Perry to its third consecutive state championship and second in the Open Division.

Peat, a 6-foot-8 junior, is rated by recruiting services among the top five 2025 prospects in the nation. He has won two gold medals the last two summers playing for Team USA age-group teams in international play.

“Koa probably impacts winning more than any player in the state,” coach Sam Duane Jr. said. “His performance and leadership on and off the court make him very deserving of this award.”

Peat averaged 20.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, one steal and 2.2 blocks (65 total) during the season, as the Pumas went 25-6, beating Goodyear Millennium 71-67 for their second straight Open title.

“His work ethic, unselfishness and great desire to win,” Duane about Peat’s main traits that separate him from most his age in the nation. “He can guard one to five. He protects the rim. He can distribute the ball. He can score from all three levels and he is a great teammate.”

Peat played the final quarter of this past state championship game with four fouls, but Duane never considered taking him out, knowing how smart Peat was to avoid another foul while still making an impact. He had 21 points, 13 rebounds and four assists but gave credit to the rest of the team.

“Those are my guys,” Peat said after that win on March 2. “I don’t think I played the best game personally. But they picked me up. For everybody to say that this is a one-man army, it’s not.”

— Richard Obert