Peat Named to Karl Malone Award Preseason Watch Listing

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame introduced the 20 watch-list candidates for the 2026 Karl Malone Award on Tuesday and Arizona freshman ahead Koa Peat was included on the checklist. The high-energy ahead from Perry High School in Arizona was a McDonald’s All-American as a senior and has been sturdy in each exhibition video games for the Wildcats.  

Peat had a adorned prep profession, profitable 4 state championships and being named Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year 3 times. 

The annual Karl Malone Award, named after the Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, celebrates its twelfth 12 months by recognizing the highest energy forwards in Division I males’s school basketball. 

2026 Karl Malone Award Preseason Top 20*

Koa Peat, Arizona

Keyshawn Hall, Auburn

Michael Rataj, Baylor

Cameron Boozer, Duke

Thomas Haugh, Florida

Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech

Graham Ike, Gonzaga

Joseph Tugler, Houston

Alvaro Folgueiras, Iowa

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

Malik Reneau, Miami

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

Caleb Wilson, North Carolina

Nick Martinelli, Northwestern

Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue

Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s

Donnie Freeman, Syracuse

JT Toppin, Texas Tech

Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA

Alex Karaban, UConn

*Players can play their manner onto and off the checklist at any level within the 2025-26 season.

Fans can assist their favourite participant by taking part in Fan Voting beginning Friday, October 31. In late January, the watch checklist of 20 gamers for the 2026 Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards shall be narrowed to 10, after which in late February, to only 5. In March, the 5 finalists shall be offered to Malone, McClain, and the Hall of Fame’s choice committees, the place winners shall be chosen. The Selection Committees for the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards are composed of prime males’s and girls’s school basketball personnel, together with media members, head coaches, sports activities info administrators, and Hall of Famers.

The winner of the 2026 Malone and McClain Awards shall be offered on a to-be-determined date, together with the opposite 4 members of the Men’s and Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being offered embrace the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).

Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award are Johni Broome, Auburn (2025), Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State (2024), Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (2023), Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), Drew Timme, Gonzaga (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016), and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).

Arizona opens the 2025-26 common season Monday, Nov. 3 in opposition to No. 3 Florida at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tip-off is scheduled for five:00 p.m. MST on TNT.