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“Seeing the court again, playing a basketball game, I'm always gonna be blessed to God,� he said after UA lost to Michigan in the national semifinals. “I’ll never take that for granted. And immediately being in the Final Four, and playing minutes my first year back... you can't complain about this.�

Still, whether to chase more minutes and/or better compensation elsewhere, Aristode entered the transfer portal a week after the Wildcats’ season ended. DraftExpress reported Saturday evening that his agency, The Team, said Aristode would enter the portal, making Aristode the second Wildcat to consider heading elsewhere after reserve Sidi Gueye did so on Friday.

While essentially serving as the last player in UA’s eight-player rotation, Aristode averaged 13.3 minutes last season while flashing high-level 3-and-D potential. He took less than two 3-point attempts per game, but led the Wildcats in 3-point percentage at 46.2.

“Former top-30 recruit will draw heavy interest across the high major spectrum,� DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony posted.

But Aristode’s role shrunk slightly after he missed four games in late February with an unspecified illness. While he had eight points in a 16-minute appearance against Iowa State on March 2 at McKale Center, he averaged just 8.7 minutes in the Big 12 Tournament and just 7.2 in the NCAA Tournament.

After UA beat Iowa State again in the Big 12 Tournament semifinal, Aristode spoke of how the "whole team has an arsenal on their back" and discussed his role in the Wildcats' mix of talent.

"I just do what he asks me to do," Aristode said of UA coach Tommy Lloyd. "Not too much I can control. So that's what I just do."

During the NCAA Tournament and after playing 10 minutes against Michigan in the Final Four, Aristode was noncommittal about his future.

"I honestly don't know," he said after the Michigan game. "I haven't been thinking about that yet."

Still, Aristode joined the Wildcats on their trip to Phoenix on Thursday to accept congratulations from state legislators, fans and staff, a trip that was likely the Wildcats’ last as a 2025-26 unit.

Spending that sort of time together, Aristode said after the Michigan game, was another reason to feel grateful.

“I love my teammates,� he said after the Michigan game. “They help me and they’re great people. I’ll always be thankful for them. So those are definitely my highlights — at the dinners, the hotels and everything like that. Those are highlights I’ll never forget.�

Holt stars at Hoop Summit

After Arizona signee Caleb Holt and Michigan-bound Brandon McCoy led USA to a over the World in the Nike Hoop Summit all-star game Saturday in Portland, Oregon, they had a little fun discussing their future teams.

Holt had 24 points, and McCoy hit two free throws at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime, so the two players were brought to the postgame Peacock interview and asked what they would bring to each of their college teams next season.

"We gonna beat them next year," Holt said.

"Nah, nah, nah," McCoy said. "It's gonna be a good game but Michigan gonna come out on top, you know what I’m saying? Go blue.�

When the microphone went back to Holt, he gestured to himself, McCoy and his other USA teammates.

“Arizona getting a dog,� Holt said. “Michigan getting a dog. We all dogs. Love these guys.�

Both Holt and McCoy played for UA coach Tommy Lloyd on the USA team that won the U19 FIBA World Cup last summer in Switzerland, and the Hoop Summit game effectively marked the end of their high school careers.

“That was my last game with the bros. We've been together since our freshman year,� Holt said. “I love these guys.�

Also named a co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American game on March 31 in Glendale, Holt shot 9 of 18 from the field while hitting 4 of 9 3-pointers in the Hoop Summit game. After finishing his senior year at Florida’s Prolific Prep, Holt is expected to replace Brayden Burries in the Wildcats’ starting lineup next season.

Second-chance at PGs

Departing Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad canceled a planned visit to ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV on Tuesday, but the Wildcats have been reportedly pursuing two point guards now in the portal that they once recruited as high school players: Zoom Diallo (who began his college career at Washington) and Derek Dixon (North Carolina).

Multiple reports said Diallo visited Kentucky over the weekend, while WildcatAuthority’s Jason Scheer posted that Dixon was visiting Arizona.

Dixon averaged 6.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in starting 16 of 33 games played for North Carolina as a freshman.