Arizona Roster Overhaul: Ten Newcomers Join Tommy Lloyd's Squad
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Coach Lloyd has rebuilt a top-five roster around returning stars Mo Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov with a mix of freshmen, transfers, and international talent.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd has reloaded his roster with ten newcomers to replace Koa Peat, Jaden Bradley, and Brayden Burries, who departed for the NBA, as Sports Illustrated first reported.
While center Mo Krivas and forward Ivan Kharchenkov remain as returning anchors, the Wildcats' 2026-27 success depends on the integration of these new additions. Among the most anticipated is freshman guard Caleb Holt, a McDonald's All-American and 247Sports composite No. 2 recruit, who is viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NBA draft.
Lloyd has also added several transfers to bolster the backcourt and frontcourt. Point guard Derek Dixon arrives from North Carolina, while JJ Mandaquit joins from Washington. In the frontcourt, the Wildcats added 6'7 power forward RJ Godfrey from Clemson, though Sports Illustrated reports Godfrey is currently ineligible to play following an NCAA stay request regarding a lawsuit in Georgia.
Other notable additions include freshman wing Cameron Holmes and international talent such as Maksim Brnovic from BC Zalgiris in Lithuania and Ugnius Jarusevicius, a Nebraska transfer who previously played for Central Michigan and Cal-State Bakersfield. Sports Illustrated notes that the cohesion of these ten players will be the deciding factor for a team widely considered a top-five squad in the country.