Since the 2024-25 season ended two weeks ago, the offseason news surrounding Arizona has been split between who is leaving and who is set to join the program. But the ones in the middle matter, too.
One of those, power forward Tobe Awaka, made it official Friday that he would return to the UA for his senior season and second with Arizona.
The 6-foot-8, 250-pound Awaka started all but one game for the UA this season after transferring from Tennessee. He averaged 8.0 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game, shooting 64.6 percent overall.
Awaka posted nine double-doubles, his best performance an 18-point, 15-rebound one against Old Dominion while he went for 12 points and 14 rebounds against Oregon in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. His offensive rebound rate of 17.3 percent ranked fourth nationally.
His return helps shore up a frontcourt that also brings back Motiejus Krivas, who missed most of last season with a foot injury. Arizona’s other two centers, Henri Veesaar and Emmanuel Stephen, entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Awaka is one of five scholarship players from the 2024-25 currently part of the roster for next season, along with Krivas, forward Carter Bryant—who may still declare for the 2025 NBA Draft—and guards Jaden Bradley and Anthony Dell’Orso. The Wildcats have four incoming freshmen, three of which are 5-star prospects, and on Thursday signed former Harvard guard (and Tucson native) Evan Nelson from the portal.
