5-star SF Dwayne Aristode commits to Arizona over Duke, USC and Michigan State | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Arizona men’s basketball head coach Tommy Lloyd had a big win on the recruiting trail on Sunday.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported that forward Dwayne Aristode, who is from the Netherlands, is committed to the Wildcats over finalists Duke, USC, Michigan State and the NBL Next Stars program.

The 6-foot-4 Aristode is a 5-star prospect and the No. 18 overall player and No. 4 small forward in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Lloyd’s international recruiting success is nothing new, as he helped bring in the likes of Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania), Ronny Turiaf (France), Rui Hachimura (Japan), Kelly Olynyk (Canada) and Mario Kasun (Croatia) when he was still an assistant coach at Gonzaga.

In addition, Arizona’s roster for the 2024-2025 season includes many international players: Motiejus Krivas (Lithuania), Anthony Dell’Orso (Australia), Henri Veesaar (Estonia), Conrad Martinez (Spain) and Emmanuel Stephen (Nigeria).

“The winning culture that Tommy Lloyd has built in Arizona is remarkable,” Aristode said. “They play fast and have the right balance between structure and giving players freedom.”

While Aristode made his national team debut this summer as a 17-year-old, he played high school basketball in the United States.

The first thing you’ll notice about the prospect’s game is his defense, as he can guard multiple positions and help protect the rim. However, 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein called his offensive game “a bit of a work in progress” that has “made consistent progress.”

He can finish above the rim with lobs and play through contact, while also hitting a solid but unspectacular shot from beyond the arc.

If Aristode can continue to make those strides on the offensive end while playing impressive defense, he will be an immediate difference maker for the Wildcats. He is their first commitment in the class of 2025 and could set the tone for the future.

Lloyd brought in a solid mix of recruits and transfers as part of his 2024 class and now has some momentum in the 2025 class with the addition of a top prospect.