Arizona moved closer Friday to securing potentially one of college basketballβs top frontcourts next season when center Tobe Awaka signed with the Wildcats to return as a senior in 2025-26.
An honorable mention all-Big 12 pick in 2024-25, Awaka is expected to join five-star freshman forward Koa Peat and center Motiejus Krivas in a three-player rotation for UAβs two post spots.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka shoots against Baylor forward Norchad Omier during the second half Feb. 17, 2025, in Waco, Texas.
Krivas, who played only in UAβs first eight games in 2024-25 because of a foot/ankle injury, has not confirmed his intentions but appears to be leaning toward a return.
With Krivas out for good in December, the Wildcats developed a productive post rotation that included Awaka at center, Trey Townsend at power forward and Henri Veesaar at both post spots.
While Veesaar transferred to North Carolina and Townsend ran out of eligibility, Peat committed on March 27 and UA posted Friday that Awaka had re-signed and would return this season.
The school also posted a video of Awaka confirming his decision.
βWildcat nation, I appreciate you guys for welcoming me with open arms this past season and super grateful for the opportunity,β Awaka said. βThis season was such a great experience. With that being said, I will be running it back next season and Iβm super excited to wear that Wildcat red, white and blue.β
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka gets a dunk past Colorado forward Bangot Dak in the first half on Jan. 25, 2025.
A junior transfer from Tennessee last summer, Awaka became an honorable mention all-Big 12 pick in 2024-25, averaging 8.0 points and 7.8 rebounds while starting 36 of 37 games.
Awaka split the minutes at center with Krivas over the Wildcatsβ first eight games, but his production increased after Krivas was sidelined, averaging 8.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 21.2 minutes in Big 12 play.
If Krivas also returns next season, UA could deploy a similar three-player rotation inside as it did in 2024-25. Both Awaka and Peat are capable of playing center if Krivas is out, and both Awaka and Peat can play power forward when Krivas is in the game.
Awakaβs return gives the Wildcats 10 scholarship players plus three former walk-ons on their tentative roster for next season. With the expected shift to revenue sharing, college teams will be allowed 15 total players but no walk-ons starting next season, instead of 13 scholarship players plus walk-ons.
UA adds ex-Salpointe standout Nelson
The Wildcats also strengthened their backcourt rotation when former Salpointe Catholic High School standout Evan Nelson agreed to return home to play for Arizona during his final college season.
A standout on Salpointeβs Class 4A state championship team in 2020, Nelson spent four seasons with the Harvard program but missed the 2023-24 season with an injury, leaving him with an extra season to play in 2025-26.
Salpointe Catholic guard Evan Nelson, right, drives to the basket past the defense of Peoriaβs Jovon Scott during the first half of the Class 4A boys state championship basketball game in Phoenix on Feb. 29, 2020.
Nelson averaged 9.1 points and 2.9 assists while shooting 40.4% from 3-point range in 2024-25. He played sparingly in 13 games as a freshman in 2021-22, then moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore in 2022-23.
At Salpointe, Nelson was the 4A Kino Regionβs Player of the Year and a teammate of former UA guard Grant Weitman, who was the regionβs Offensive Player of the Year. Also having Tennessee guard Jordan Gainey on that team, the Lancers beat Peoria for the state title in Phoenix two weeks before COVID-19 hit.
βIt was a great experience,β Weitman said in 2020. βWe had some good guys on the team and it was all seniors so it was really fun, and great chemistry. We were a great team and it was great to win the first state championship in school history, something that Iβll always remember.β
UCLA game reportedly set
The second of three UA-UCLA games has been set for Nov. 14 at Los Angelesβ Intuit Dome, according to a post from CBSβ Jon Rothstein that quoted an unnamed source.
UA officials did not confirm the date but the teamβs three-year series has been under contract for games to be played in Phoenix in 2024-25, at a Los Angeles site other than UCLAβs Pauley Pavilion for 2025-26 and in Las Vegas in 2026-27.
In the first game, UCLA beat Arizona 57-54 on Dec. 14 at Phoenixβs Footprint Center.
