Tommy Lloyd has built a reputation for keeping freshmen on the bench, but Koa Peat might be the player who finally forces the Arizona Wildcats coach to change his ways. The 6-foot-8 McDonald’s All-American arrives in Tucson with the type of elite credentials that make benching him nearly impossible.

Will Koa Peat Force Tommy Lloyd to Change His Philosophy?

According to analysis from “Locked On College Basketball’s” YouTube channel, Lloyd’s approach to freshmen could face its biggest test yet with incoming recruits Peat and Brayden Burries.

Lloyd has typically favored experienced players in his rotations, with few freshmen earning significant minutes in his first four seasons. His approach has drawn criticism from some who want to see elite young talent get more opportunities.

This year’s freshman class might be different, though. The podcast hosts explained that both players are more offense-focused prospects who are expected to come in and play bigger roles right away.

“If at least one of them will start, guaranteed, there’s a pretty good chance that both of them will start,” the show predicted about the incoming freshmen.

However, how much Lloyd plays these freshmen will determine whether critics finally back off or get even louder about his rotation decisions.

“If Braden Burries is coming off the bench in favor of a guy like Krivas, then that narrative around Tommy Lloyd being hesitant to play freshman is going to get very, very loud,” the hosts explained.

“But if Koa Peat and Braden Burries both start, or if they both play 25 plus minutes per game, if Koa Peat leads this team in scoring, which is frankly possible, even with Dell’Orso and Bradley, I think it is possible that Koa Peat is that guy. He is a very, very gifted scorer.”

The podcast offered context for Lloyd’s past decisions: “Maybe he just didn’t have the pieces that he thought were necessary to play big minutes right away.”

The flip side is clear. If Lloyd gives these freshmen major roles and they deliver, it would prove he was just waiting for the right talent. Any questions about his willingness to play young players would be put to rest.

What Makes Peat Different From Previous Arizona Freshmen?

Peat certainly looks like that missing piece. His track record suggests he’s ready to handle whatever role Lloyd gives him from day one.

Peat dominated Arizona high school basketball despite playing his senior season with a broken hand, still managing 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.

He’s proven himself on bigger stages too, averaging 17.9 points and 5.6 rebounds at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup while ranking sixth in scoring and earning All-Star Five honors.

This past summer, he helped Team USA win gold at the U19 World Cup with 12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

Koa Peat finishes his brilliant high school basketball career with 4 state titles, cementing Perry’s place in AIA history as one of the best teams ever pic.twitter.com/QYxCf9IMX7

— Richard Obert (@azc_obert) March 9, 2025

With credentials like that, Peat had his pick of programs. When he announced his commitment on “The Pat McAfee Show” in March, he picked Arizona over Arizona State, Baylor, Houston, and Texas. The three-time Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year (2022-2024) chose to stay home in Gilbert.

His timing couldn’t be better for the Wildcats. Arizona returns only three rotation players from last season’s 24-13 Sweet 16 team, creating immediate opportunities for Peat to make an impact.

With opportunity knocking and talent arriving, Peat’s freshman season will determine whether Lloyd was simply waiting for the right pieces. The answer could reshape how people view his approach to young players.