By Reese Merritt
@reesemerritt_
Roaming the court in stealth, with a large 6-foot-8 frame is Koa Peat. Even though it may be expected that a person with such a size cannot go unnoticed, Peat does.
Then the unforeseen freight train hits.
Peat bumps opposing players out of the way of his shots, wrestling and driving his way to the net. And when physicality is not the selection of choice, without fail, he finds an open teammate rather than taking the ball for himself.
These strengths of the Perry High School power forward earned Peat the Most Valuable Player award in the final game at the 2024 Spalding Hoophall Classic on Saturday night in a nail biting finish versus Grayson High School.
Perry was two points behind in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, when Peat’s teammate, Barron Silsby, struck the arena with a buzzer beater. Silsby’s 3-point shot sunk through the rim, setting a final score of 64-63.
“We just went out there and played our game,” Peat said. “And Barron ended up hitting the big shot for us and we celebrated it.”
The team raced around the court in a lap as the Pumas yelled in celebration and disbelief. The crowd erupted equally in shock.
But what is even more disbelieving is how the Peat family continues to repeat athletic success.
In either football or basketball, each of Peat’s six siblings have played at the collegiate level. Yet, Peat, is next in line, peregrinating from one collegiate visit to the next.
The catalog of the Peats’ success begins with Peat’s father, Todd Peat, who played in the National Football League as an offensive guard and tackle for the Phoenix/St. Louis Cardinals (1987-1989) and Los Angeles Raiders (1990, 1992-1993). Todd’s oldest child, Andrus, followed in practically identical footsteps, as he is a nine-year offensive guard for the New Orleans Saints, was a 2015 first-round pick, and is a three-time NFL Pro Bowler.
Then comes Todd Jr., who is a former defensive tackle for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Koa’s brother, Cassius, played college football for Michigan State, Eastern Arizona, Pima Community College, Scottsdale Community College and Virginia.
His sister, Leilani, played college basketball for the Seattle Redhawks at Seattle University and the San Francisco Dons at the University of San Francisco.
Maya, a senior at the University of Arkansas, plays basketball for the Pine Bluff Golden Lions.
And, Keona, who is two years older than Koa, is a redshirt freshman at the University of Arizona, playing offensive lineman for the team.
For Peat, he was able to see seven total figures of ascending and assiduous athletes.
“They pushed me,” Peat said. “They kind of paved the way for me, just seeing how they did it. [I’m] just taking in what they got to say and just trying to execute the plan that they put inside me.”
As Peat’s family stands alongside himself and his choices, allowing him to decide what path he would like to take athletically, he has made a name for himself too. In the game against Grayson High School, Peat scored 23 total points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks – no one on either team had more than three.
“I feel like I’ve been a really underrated shot blocker. So, [I’m] just showing people that I can defend at the rim and just playing my butt off,” Peat said.
Ranked No. 4 on ESPN’s top recruits in the Class of 2025, and having won a gold medal with the United States at the 2022 FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Spain, Peat doesn’t have to explain that he is part of the family. He shows it.
Even so, an important piece of the family is missing. Only an Instagram profile picture of a young Koa Peat hugging an older woman, her chin resting upon his head, wrapping her arms around snuggly around his body. This is left for the public eye to see and can characterize a sense of loss. That older woman being his grandmother.
“That’s me and my Granny,” Peat said. “She passed away a couple years ago.”
In spite of having over a half dozen figures to look up to, she was Peat’s rock. But he knows she is still peering down at his accomplishments from above.
Peat said, “I know she’s watching down on me. I mean, I wish she was here to see it, but I know she’s watching down on me.”
Peat’s faith in Christ, worshiping his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a constant, and his grandmother will know all Peat is accomplishing. His stealthy abilities on the court are no match for those of his rock.
Photo by Liam Reilly/The Student