Ivan Kharchenkov to return for sophomore season, giving Arizona 2 starters back from Final Four team

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Ivan Kharchenkov #8 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates a three pointer against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The college experience is different for everyone. For Ivan Kharchenkov, how much he’s enjoyed his likely contributed to the decision to experience another year of it.

Arizona announced Tuesday that Kharchenkov will be returning to Arizona for his sophomore season, joining Motiejus Krivas as starters from the Final Four squad choosing to run it back rather than enter the 2026 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-7, 230-pound Kharchenkov started all 39 games for the Wildcats in his first collegiate season, managing to stand out alongside more highly touted freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat. He averaged 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 49.2 percent overall and 72.3 percent from the line.

Born in Russia but raised in Germany, Kharchenkov played professionally for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga, the highest level of basketball in that country. He used that experience to fit perfectly into Arizona’s system, scoring 12 points with 10 rebounds in his debut against Florida and averaging 11.4 points and 6.0 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament.

Kharchenkov’s return, along with that of the 7-foot-2 Krivas, gives Arizona two starters back from the group that helped end the program’s 25-year Final Four drought. They join guard Bryce James and center Mabil Mawut, both of whom redshirted in 2025-26, along with a quartet of newcomers in freshmen guards Cameron Holmes and Caleb Holt and transfer guards Derek Dixon and JJ Mandaquit to form the bulk of the potential rotation for 2026-27.