Arizona’s roster is loaded with NBA talent heading into the 2026-27 season, and the Wildcats have a handful of names worth tracking closely for the 2027 draft.
Motiejus Krivas is the headliner in the frontcourt. The 7-foot-2 rising senior had been viewed as a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft before electing to return to Arizona, and he still projects in a similar range for 2027.
Last season, he put up 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 turnovers per game. He shot 62.5% at the rim on 120 attempts, 53.8% on non-rim twos on 106 attempts, and 78% from the free throw line on 168 attempts.
Krivas has been a force on the glass, posting a 14.4 offensive rebound percentage and 19.8 defensive rebound percentage, while also anchoring the paint with a 1.6 steal percentage and 7.5 block percentage. He gives Arizona rim protection and drop coverage on defense, and on offense he’s a clean finisher and effective screener.
He has not been much of a floor spacer in his career, but that 78% free throw mark suggests there may be something there.
Arias Kharchenkov, a 6-foot-7 rising sophomore, is another Arizona name with real draft buzz. He was one of eleven players to meet the Productive Young Athlete query last season, joining AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, Caleb Wilson, Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries, Ebuka Okorie, Allen Graves, Hannes Steinbach, and Darius Acuff Jr.
All ten of those other players were first round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. Historically, 50% of players who have met the Productive Young Athlete query became multi-time All-Stars or Starters while another 28% became Backups.
Kharchenkov stands out for his defensive versatility, working as a physical on-ball defender and an active off-ball defender with a 3.7 stock percentage. He can drive, run in transition, and has flashed some playmaking.
The next step is clear: his 31.7% three-point shooting and 72.3% free throw shooting need to improve. Even so, he has first-round upside for the 2027 NBA Draft, right there with Krivas.
Arizona’s backcourt also includes a 6-foot-5 guard who spent last season at UNC, where he averaged 22.3 minutes per game. His game showed two real selling points for scouts: shooting and passing.
He knocked down 39.7% of his threes on 126 attempts, which worked out to 9.9 three-point attempts per 100 possessions, and he posted a 20.2 assist percentage. That makes him another 2027 draft prospect to keep on the radar.
The Wildcats also have a projected lottery-level talent in the mix. The consensus No. 3 recruit in the country is viewed as a lottery pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.
Holt is a 6-foot-5 guard who brings rim pressure, burst, contact creation, finishing, rebounding, and defensive disruption. His 6-foot-9 wingspan helps him impact plays both on the ball and away from it.
Rounding out the group is Holmes, a 6-foot-6 wing and a consensus top-50 recruit. He’s the younger brother of Denver Nuggets center DaRon Holmes II, and his appeal comes from being a connector.
Offensively, he can drive, pass, and cut with feel. Defensively, he stays active off the ball and has the lateral quickness plus 6-foot-9 wingspan to handle on-ball assignments too.
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