Auburn is reportedly making an early move to secure former five-star recruit
Dwayne Aristode as the program looks to reinforce its frontcourt ahead of the 2026–27 season.
Aristode entered the transfer portal on Monday under a do-not-contact tag, instantly drawing attention from multiple programs.
Reports from On3 suggest Auburn has already positioned itself as one of the leading early contenders for his signature, with head coach Steven Pearl actively reshaping his roster following several departures.
Following the graduation of KeShawn Murphy and Filip Jovic’s transfer to UCLA, Auburn has an obvious gap to fill in the forward position. Aristode, a 6-foot-8 forward from Arizona, is viewed as a strong candidate to make an immediate impact.
According to On3:
Sources tell On3 that Auburn has emerged as the early school to watch in this recruitment. Steven Pearl has already lost four players to the portal and is looking to rework his roster after winning the NIT Tournament. Aristode has emerged as a top priority for Auburn.
During his freshman season at Arizona, Aristode averaged 3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 13.2 minutes per game. His standout performance came in an 84–49 win over Northern Arizona, where he scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
He also saw limited action during Arizona’s NCAA Tournament run, playing 10 minutes in a Final Four loss to eventual champions Michigan, finishing with three points and two turnovers.
Coming out of high school, Aristode was ranked as a composite five-star prospect and rated the No. 7 small forward in the 2025 recruiting class, highlighting his high potential despite a quiet freshman campaign.
If Auburn secures his commitment, Aristode would join a returning group that includes Tahaad Pettiford, Kevin Overton, and Sebastian Williams-Adams, along with incoming French center Narcisse Ngoy. The Tigers are also hoping to retain Elyjah Freeman as part of their rebuild.
Auburn’s first season under Steven Pearl had its ups and downs, finishing outside the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 after a 7–11 SEC record. However, they ended the year on a positive note by winning the NIT title with an overtime victory over Tulsa.