6-foot-8 Dutch prospect Dwayne Aristode commits to Tommy Lloyd’s Arizona rejecting 3 top programs feat. Duke

Dwayne Aristode, a five-star forward, has chosen to continue his basketball career at the University of Arizona under the tutelage of coach Tommy Lloyd. He spurned offers from top-tier programs including Duke, USC and Wake Forest.

ESPN basketball analyst Jonathan Givony broke the news on his Twitter account on Sunday.

"Five-star 2025 recruit Dwayne Aristode has committed to Arizona, he told ESPN. The 6-foot-8 wing from the Netherlands gives Tommy Lloyd yet another top-shelf international prospect to build around." Givony tweeted.

According to 247Sports, the 6-foot-8 Dutch wing received 12 offers from Division I schools which include some of the most prestigious names: Duke, Alabama, Michigan State, USC, Wake Forest, and Kansas. Aristode is ranked No.1 player in the New Hemisphere state, the top five small forward and No. 28 overall in the 2025 recruiting class.

"The winning culture Tommy Lloyd has built at Arizona is remarkable," Dwayne told ESPN. "They play fast and have the right balance between structure and giving players freedom."

Aristode also has a strong defensive ability with a solid build and wide arms and he's also a great 3-point shooter. With his addition, coach Tommy Lloyd's 2025 roster is off to a great start.

What can Tommy Lloyd expect from Dwayne Aristode?

Arizona's fourth-season coach is great at scouting talents and landing international players.

As an assistant coach at Gonzaga, he played a key role in recruiting players like three-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis from Lithuania, Rui Hachimura from Japan, Mario Kasun from Croatia and Kelly Olynyk from Canada.

With Dwayne Aristode, the first signing of the 2025 class, Lloyd once again demonstrated his prowess in landing young foreign talents.

Aristode first gained attention playing in the Nike EYBL grassroots circuit. He will enter the sophomore year of United States high school basketball at Brewster Academy this coming season.

"My experience in the U.S. is going to help me because I had plenty of time to adjust to the pace and style of play," Dwayne said, according to Givony.

"Playing EYBL for Todd Quarles and Expressions opened my eyes to the speed of the game and the aggressiveness you need to play here. I will combine that into my game with what I learned growing up in Europe."

At Arizona, Lloyd can benefit heavily from Aristode's defensive composure. His flexibility in playing different positions at the back and a strong presence near the rim to block shots, coupled with his excellent play could make him a valuable asset in the Wildcats team.