Bleacher Report has continued to name Koa Peat of the University of Arizona as the Charlotte Hornets’ choice at the No. 7 spot in its 2026 NBA Mock Drafts. Some fans may balk at that idea, since Peat doesn’t seem to be as highly touted as his fellow draft prospects. However, looking at the 18-year-old’s body of work, he could turn out to be a seamless fit with the Hornets.
Naturally, the ideal pick for the long-struggling franchise would be any of Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, or AJ Dybantsa. Even Caleb Wilson deserves a mention. Each of those incoming rookies has shown the potential to become a star in the NBA.
The Hornets, though, could fall outside the top four in the draft order because of their current standings and their regular misfortune in the draft lottery. As such, landing one of the top prospects might merely be a pipe dream for Buzz City.
The good news is that the 2026 draft class has plenty of other strong candidates for Charlotte, and Peat might just be one of them.
Filling a massive roster hole
Peat has been perceived a bit polarizingly by pundits. Some mock drafts or big boards don’t value him as highly as Bleacher Report has, describing him as a mid-first-round range talent. For the record, FanSided also had him selected at No. 7, though in its mock draft, the Hornets went eighth and landed Labaron Philon Jr.
Based on what I’ve seen and heard about Peat, he does seem like a perfect selection for Charlotte. He projects to be a sound two-way player because he has complemented his solid physical frame with his wide array of offensive moves and polished defense.
On offense, Peat has displayed the ability to drive to the rim and the strength, finesse, and post-up skills to finish inside the paint. He can also hit mid-range jump shots with ease and be a connective passer if the offense calls for it. Meanwhile, his defense has stood out for its versatility, proving he can effectively take on matchups on the perimeter and in the shaded area.
The Arizona native can even crash the boards with ferocity. The Wildcats’ recent win against South Dakota State University saw him record 14 rebounds to go along with his 19 points.
A huge hiccup about Peat is that he seems to be undersized to be a power forward, his natural position, in the NBA. His listed height is 6-8, but it will be interesting to see what his measurements will be at the draft combine. The Hornets have started Miles Bridges at the four and know firsthand how the lack of height at that position can be troublesome.
In addition, Peat doesn’t have a three-ball, which could limit his effectiveness at the professional ranks. He banked his only 3-pointer in college against South Dakota State and has missed his other seven attempts from downtown this season.
If the Hornets are willing to overlook his shooting deficiency or wait for him to develop it, grabbing him outside the top four in the draft wouldn’t be a bad outcome.