COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Incoming Arizona freshman Koa Peat was named one of 18 finalists for USA Basketball’s U19 team, although UA recruiting targets Cameron Holmes and Tajh Ariza were among the 13 players trimmed from the roster after four practice sessions on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center campus.
USA will cut down later this week to 12 players for the team that will compete in the FIBA U19 World Cup starting June 28 in Switzerland.
Although UA coach Tommy Lloyd is the head coach of the U19 team this year, TCU coach Jamie Dixon said the roster decisions are largely made by the Junior National Team Committee that he chairs.
“They don’t want it to be the coach making the cuts or the one guy that it falls on,” Dixon said.
Another UA recruiting target, forward Christian Collins, was among the seven class of 2026 players who made the cut to 18. The finalists also included four returning college players and seven incoming college freshmen, including Peat and BYU-bound AJ Dybantsa.
Peat and six other finalists were members of USA Basketball’s U17 team last summer that won gold in the FIBA U17 World Cup, while four players who played for Lloyd and USA in the FIBA U18 AmeriCup last summer were also named finalists.
Arizona's Koa Peat, shown during USA Basketball's U19 training camp last weekend, was one of 18 finalists for the 12-player team that will compete in the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland.
The full list of U19 finalists:
Mikel Brown, G, Louisville (2025)
Chris Cenac, C, Houston (2025)
Christian Collins, F, St. John Bosco (Calif.) HS (2026)
Jason Crowe, G, Inglewood (Calif.) HS (2026)
AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU (2025)
Caleb Holt, G, Grayson (Ga.) HS (2026)
Daniel Jacobsen, C, Purdue (2024)
Jasper Johnson, G, Kentucky (2025)
Morez Johnson, C, Michigan (2024)
Nik Khamenia, F, Duke (2025)
JJ Mandaquit, G, Washington (2025)
Brandon McCoy, G, St. John Bosco (Calif.) HS (2026)
Royce Parham, C, Marquette (2024)
Koa Peat, F, Arizona (2025)
Tyrone Riley, F, San Francisco (2024)
Deron Rippey, G, Blair (N.J.) Academy (2026)
Tyran Stokes, F, Notre Dame (Calif.) HS, (2026)
Elijah Williams, F, TMI Episcopal (Texas) HS (2026)
Players trimmed Monday:
Matt Able, F, N.C. State (2025)
Tajh Ariza, F, St. John Bosco (Calif.) HS (2026)
LJ Cason, G, Michigan (2024)
Cole Cloer, F, Caldwell (N.C.) Academy (2026)
Tony Duckett, F, Saint Mary’s (2024)
Caleb Gaskins, F, Columbus (Fla.) HS (2026)
Cameron Holmes, G, Millennium HS (2026)
Taylen Kinney, G, Overtime Elite (2026)
Nykolas Lewis, G, VCU (2025)
Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky (2025)
Josiah Sanders, G, Colorado (2025)
Jordan Smith, G, St. Paul IV Catholic (Va.) HS (2026)
Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt (2024)
