Dwayne Aristode emerging as a star in the 2025 class
MONTVERDE, Fla. – A few months back when Dwayne Aristode made the trek over to the U.S. from the Netherlands to play at Brewster Academy for his junior season, the 6-foot-7 wing was clear on the inevitable adjustments that would accompany the move.
Aristode played in Spain for three years with Club Joventut Badalona, but his coming out party was last year when he competed with the Netherlands in the 2022 U16 European Championships.
There he pumped in 15.3 points, nine rebounds, 3.1 assists and two steals a game.
“Obviously, the European game is different,” Aristode said. “The pace is faster and it’s more about individual skill, which I really like. It’s been fun just learning a lot over the past couple months. I do feel like my game is growing.”
College coaches concur.
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When asked which programs are reaching out most consistently, Aristode named Duke, UCLA, Wake Forest, Arizona, Georgetown, Xavier and Connecticut.
“A lot of the schools have been talking to me since the summer,” Aristode said. “There are more schools that are reaching out too. That’s been cool, just talking to the coaches and getting to know the different staffs, but I’m just focusing on hooping right now.”
Aristode was laser focused over the last two days, using his size and length to aggravate opposing guards all over the floor on the defensive end. He was equally effective as a scorer and playmaker, using that length to maneuver into the lane for short pull ups and put-backs while keeping the defense off balance with his ability to knockdown perimeter jump shots.
“I’m just the type of player that will do anything for my team to get the win,” said Aristode, who pumped in 15 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in a 67-63 loss to IMG Academy on Friday. “I feel like I can play a lot of different positions and that’s what the coaches like about me too.”
Aristode said programs are already going into great detail about their plans for how they would implement him into their system.
“Virginia said they’d like to use me as a versatile four, even though I’m not technically a four,” Aristode said. “They want to use me to attack like they did with De’Andre Hunter. UCLA said I could be a go-to guy with my ability on both ends of the floor; I’ve heard a lot of different things.”
It’s just the tip of the iceberg for Aristode who’s competing in the newly formed Nike EYBL Scholastic league with nationally televised games and the greatest collection of powerhouse schools and prospects ever assembled in a high school hoops conference.
“I love competition, so this is perfect for me,” Aristode said. “I’ve got a whole year to think about colleges and things like that. I’m more focused on winning right now. I keep in touch with all of the coaches, but I’m not making any big decisions right now. I’m just taking my time with that.”