After a game between UConn and Arizona was announced in the preseason, college basketball fans were left to wonder if LeBron James would make the trip up to the farmlands of Storrs, Connecticut.
With LeBron’s son Bryce on the roster and ‘King James’ sidelined with an injury amidst a four-day break in the NBA schedule, the possibility was there if Bryce was able to take to the court.
Neither of those things happened. Bryce has yet to play for the Wildcats this season (and likely won’t). Meanwhile, LeBron is ramping up for his first NBA game of the season.
But there was still a spectacle to be seen. An intriguing top-five matchup between No. 3 UConn and No. 4 Arizona ensured fireworks.
That’s especially true considering that as Bryce sits, Koa Peat – another higher-regarded freshman – is providing the hope and promise for the Wildcats.
Peat’s dominance on the interior led the way as the Wildcats pulled off a massive win over No. 3 UConn 71-67.
Bryce James, the son of LeBron James, has not yet appeared for Arizona this season
But Arizona’s other talented freshman, Koa Peat, has shown how bright his star can be
Hide the last name, and maybe it might make a bit of sense why a unanimous 3-star rated recruit who wasn’t even in the top-30 in the state of California has yet to appear.
But of course, there is a last name attached to Bryce James. It’s an iconic one. One which carries the weight of belonging to the greatest of all time.
Despite the relation to LeBron, Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd has felt no inclination to play the freshman. His recruiting profile by 24/7 Spots’ Adam Finkelstein notes, ‘He may not be the dynamic athlete or playmaker some expect at first, but he is a fundamentally sound player… [he] is still growing into his body a bit.’
Lloyd has publicly mentioned his consideration to ‘redshirt’ Bryce, which will likely eliminate him from the same one-and-done track that his brother Bronny had at USC. Instead, it seems the young James will be given time to train and grow to return for next season.
Meanwhile, another Arizona freshman has commanded the spotlight: Chandler, Arizona’s Koa Peat. The 6-foot-8 forward was ranked 11th in the nation for the 2025 class – but has already cemented himself as a top-5 rookie in the game this year.
His college basketball debut against defending national champions Florida saw Peat go off for 30 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in an upset. Since then, his numbers have slowly declined across points, rebounds, assists and even minutes.
But his ability to rise to the occasion made a top-five matchup at Gampel Pavilion in northeast Connecticut a must-watch affair for any basketball fan.
Peat made his presence known early as his frame towered over most of the Huskies in the paint. A massive block at the 5:40 mark showed how his listed height betrayed how big he was. Under three minutes, Peat shot, missed and rebounded his miss twice before finally putting back a layup – flexing his muscles as he headed up the court.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd has floated the idea of ‘redshirting’ Bryce for this year
UConn coach Dan Hurley calls out a play as Alex Karaban (11) watches on against Arizona
UConn tried compensating for Peat and 7-footer Motiejus Krivas with floaters and mid-range shots. It varied in effectiveness, but the No. 3 team in the country showed their mettle and went into halftime down only two points.
Despite UConn missing their own star freshman – Braylon Mullins – as well as their big man Tarris Reed, the Huskies never truly went away as the game clock ticked under eight minutes.
UConn super senior Alex Karaban hit his first triple of the night at the 4:38 mark to cut the deficit to one. German freshman 7-footer Eric Reibe, deputizing for Reed tied the game before the Huskies would eventually lead.
If Arizona was going to succeed, it would be Peat to take them there. His strong defense led to a crucial turnover late to give the Wildcats with the lead. Guard Jaden Bradley called his own number for a lay-in to make it 67-64 and the Cats held out from there.