The Arizona Wildcats have failed to get out of the Sweet 16 under Tommy Lloyd, but this year's recruiting class could change everything.
With the commitment of Brayden Burries, Arizona added to a recruiting class that could end up being the best in the 2025 cycle.
Burries is a 30-point-per-game scorer who led Roosevelt High School (Eastvale, Calif.) to a California championship and the No. 2 spot in the Super 25 national rankings. A well-rounded player who can score at all three levels, Burries also averaged 8.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game for the Mustangs.
247Sports reported that Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and USC also vied for his commitment. Burries said on SportsCenter: "The key factor was the trust with coach Lloyd and the staff ... He's been on me for three years now and lets his guard play. His playing style fits me perfectly."
This came just a couple weeks after local product Koa Peat, a forward for Perry High School (Gilbert, Ariz.), chose to stay in-state and go just a couple hours south to Tucson. Peat also credited Lloyd and the assistant coaches while making the announcement on "The Pat McAfee Show."
Peat helped Perry win four straight championships and returned to play in this year's title game after breaking his hand just two rounds before. He won three straight Gatorade Arizona High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year awards, including senior year, when he averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
Rounding out the five-star players committed to the team is Dwayne Aristode, a key part of Brewster Academy's run to a 28-5 record this season. From the Netherlands, he is considered the top international prospect in the class. Defense is the calling of Aristode, who has strength, welcomes physical play, and has a plus-sized wingspan at 6-foot-10, according to 247Sports. The first commit and signee of Arizona's 2025 class, he is ranked the No. 24 player on the 274Sports Composite.
Arizona is loading up in the 2025 class 😤
— ESPN (@espn) April 9, 2025
How many games will the Wildcats win next season with the recent commitment of No. 11 recruit Brayden Burries? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/POJsIEmv4W
The three of them are joined by Bryce James, son of LeBron ...
