Arizona men’s basketball announces signings of freshmen Koa Peat, Brayden Burries and Bryce James

2025 recruiting class is ranked 4th by 247Sports

The reinforcements are officially on board.

Arizona has announced the signing of three prep players to its 2025 recruiting class, which 247Sports ranks as No. 4 in the country. The Wildcats have officially added forward Koa Peat and guards Brayden Burries and Bryce James.

Peat, the No. 8 player in the 2025 class and the top-ranked recruit from Arizona, is a 6-foot-8 forward who picked the UA over ASU, Baylor, Houston and Texas Tech. He is the highest-rated player to sign with the Wildcats under Tommy Lloyd.

Burries, ranked No. 11, is a 6-4 combo guard who picked Arizona over Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee and USC. He, like Peat, are both projected as first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.

James, a 6-4 guard, is the lowest-rated of the trio—he’s a 3-star prospect who is ranked 257^th in the class—but is arguably the most famous. He is the youngest son of NBA star LeBron James and younger brother of Bronny James, who is a rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers after spending one season at USC.

Those three join 5-star Dwayne Aristode, a 6-8 forward who signed with Arizona in November. The Wildcats have also officially announced the signing of ex-Harvard guard Evan Nelson, a Tucson native who spent four seasons with the Crimson.

Four scholarship players from Arizona’s 2024-25 squad, which reached the Big 12 Tournament final and the Sweet 16, are also officially returning for another year. Guards Jaden Bradley and Anthony Dell’Orso and forward Tobe Awaka will be seniors, while center Motiejus Krivas will be a junior.

A fifth member of last year’s team may also be coming back. Forward Carter Bryant, a projected first-round pick, has until April 26 to decide whether to put his name into the 2025 NBA Draft or come back for his sophomore season.