After a rare losing season, Dana Altman secures versatile sharpshooter Dwayne Aristode. The former Arizona standout brings elite perimeter scoring to revitalize the Oregon Ducks' evolving Big Ten rotation.
The Oregon Ducks needed a reset after finishing 12-20 last season, the only year Dana Altman has had a losing record with the program.
The Ducks lost Jackson Shelstad to Louisville and Kwame Evans Jr. to Villanova in the transfer portal. Altman was honest that Oregon wasn't planning to pay some of its key starters from last season.
Oregon needed blood to breathe life into the program. In addition to adding freshmen, Altman needed to bring some talented athletes in from the transfer portal.
The Ducks did just that, and a key addition for the offense is coming from Arizona.
Jeff Borzello ranked new Oregon incomer Dwayne Aristode as the No. 75 best transfer for 2026.
"After entering the season as a potential NBA draft sleeper, Aristode failed to carve out a consistent role in Tucson," Borzello wrote.
"That said, he's a former top-50 high school recruit who shot 46.2% from 3-point range on just about two attempts per game. At 6-foot-8, he's a talented shotmaker, but he has to choose the right spot."
Borzello believes Aristode will give the Ducks flexibility for next season.
"Outlook with new team: Aristode joins a roster that features several players similar to him from a versatility and positional standpoint," he wrote.
"Dana Altman will be able to mix and match the likes of Aristode, Tajh Ariza, Tyrone Riley IV, Andrew Meadow, and Taylor Bol Bowen to fill two or three spots in his lineup at all times."
Aristode fits perfectly with what Altman said he wanted this offseason. He'll be ready to jump in and play at a high level for Big Ten play.
“Well, I’d be lying if I wouldn’t say I was a little nervous when you have a lot of new faces like that," Altman said. "But, again, it is an opportunity, as you mentioned... so we’re excited about a couple of freshmen that are coming in but we know they’re freshmen.
"In the adjustment to the Big Ten and to get to the level of play that we want to have we know that you know that can be an adjustment period for a freshman."
Aristode can rewrite his story at Oregon. The Ducks will lean on him to be a major contributor for the 2026-27 campaign.