He’s back! With the deferred between Arizona and North Carolina for Caleb Love and Henri Veesaar complete, the Wildcats have received some good news about their front court. On Friday, Tobe Awaka announced he is returning to the Arizona Wildcats for the 2025-26 season.
“Dear Wildcat Nation. I appreciate you guys welcoming me with open arms this past season. I’m super grateful for the opportunity. This season was such a great experience – with that being said, I will be running it back next season, and I’m super excited to wear that Wildcat red, white, and blue. Bear Down.”
The 6-foot-8 junior forward from Hyde Park, NY was a force in the paint for Tommy Lloyd and Co. in his first season in Tucson. Awaka led the team in rebounding, averaging 7.8 boards, including 2.9 offensive rebounds per game. Per KenPom.com, he finished fourth in the nation last season in offensive rebounding percentage, and was the top offensive rebounder in the Big 12.
As a junior, Awaka appeared in all 37 games, making 36 starts, and averaged 8.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, and 0.4 steals in 19.5 minutes per game. He finished with nine double-doubles last season, including a 12-point, 14-rebound performance against Oregon in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament in Seattle.
While there is not a specific metric that highlights toughness – offensive rebounding is a good indicator – Tobe Awaka’s most valuable asset for Arizona is his toughness and grit. Last season was arguably the toughest roster Tommy Lloyd has constructed during his time in Tucson, and Awaka was an integral part of that identity.
With Tobe Awaka returning to Arizona next season, the Wildcats’ front court now features Awaka, Motiejus Krivas, who missed most of his sophomore season with a foot injury, and five-star freshman Koa Peat, the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. Given the recent history of injuries in Arizona’s front court, the Tommy Lloyd and the staff could look to add more rotational piece through the transfer portal. For now, Arizona looks poised to head into next season with a preseason Top 10 team.