After spending the last three seasons at Tennessee, Jonas Aidoo decided to enter the portal and has since transferred to Arkansas for his senior season. It was a choice that apparently no one on Rocky Top saw coming, including his head coach in Rick Barnes.
Barnes spoke about Aidoo’s decision to leave Knoxville during a media availability on April 18th. He said that he would describe it as a surprise considering what they had been told about how he felt in regards to a return.
“Yeah. I mean, yeah, because he had told everybody he was fine,” said Barnes.
Barnes had a lot to say about transfers on that day. He discussed the decision of Tobe Awaka, who transferred to Arizona, to enter the portal too. He also spoke on the program’s policy on players potentially returning after withdrawing their names from the portal.
As for Aidoo, he left after appearing in 90 games for the Vols. Half of those outings were starts, including all 36 games this past season. In his collegiate career, he has averaged seven points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 49.8% overall.
Last season was the best of Aidoo’s three years. As the team’s starting center, he posted career-highs at 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks on 51.5% shooting. That earned him selections on the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC All-Defensive Team. It also helped the Volunteers to one of their best year’s in school history. They went 27-9 overall, won the regular-season title in the SEC, and made their second-ever Elite Eight.
However, on April 11th, Aidoo elected to enter the portal while also planning to test for the NBA Draft. He is one of four from Tennessee’s roster to do so this offseason alongside Awaka as well as Freddie Dilione (Penn State) and DJ Jefferson (Longwood).
Aidoo entered as one of the hottest commodities that was available for transfer this offseason. He ranked as the No. 10 overall player and the No. 2 C behind only Oumar Ballo (Indiana), the top player in the portal, in On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players.
Then, after plenty of top interest nationally, Aidoo committed to the Razorbacks last week. He is one of three transfers to join on with John Calipari’s new team in Fayetteville so far along with Johnell Davis (FAU), the No. 3 player and No. 1 SG in the portal, and Zvonimir Ivisic (Kentucky).
The transfer portal can certainly lead to some hard feelings, especially when those choices come unexpectedly. That might not fully or accurately describe Barnes’ feelings on the matter but it’s clear that that news was, at the very least, unanticipated for him and the Volunteers.
With the portal closed in college basketball, teams can take stock of what they lost or gained. That doesn’t make it any less crazy for those who stayed put, though, as they watched the insanity ensue across the country.
Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack gave his thoughts on portal movement during a media availability a few weeks ago. While he would’ve wanted everyone on the team to stay, he’s of the blunt opinion that players should go ahead and transfer if their commitment isn’t fully to their current program.
“You know, on the court, obviously, I’m competitive. I wanted those guys back. But, if the feeling is not mutual, we’re going to continue to keep going and moving forward,” Mashack said. “We don’t want to bring anybody along that doesn’t want to be a part of Tennessee Basketball, doesn’t want to go through those ups and downs.”
Again, it’s no less wild for the players to see the portal movement than it is for coaches or fans. Still, it’s the reality of college athletics now, even though Mashack himself doesn’t believe in transferring in order to find a better situation.
“Honestly, it’s kind of crazy,” Mashack shared. “You know, it’s a new world we live in in college basketball. It’s something that everybody has to get used to. It kind of feels like the free agency with the NBA. Just how many people are getting tugged certain ways, getting influenced certain ways. Being promised certain things, being fed dreams that they have towards other teams.”
“It’s really unique but I feel like it’s hard for a lot of players, especially players that are younger and that are influenced by a lot of different things. That’s why I can’t blame how many people are going into the transfer portal just because they want to see new options,” said Mashack. “For me personally, I really feel like, the best things in life? You have to earn and it’s not going to be easy. So, if something is hard and something is blocking your way, you’ve got to find another way around it – not just trying to go to a different avenue.”
Hundreds of college basketball players alone entered the transfer portal over the last month and a half. That includes four from Rocky Top in Jonas Aidoo (Arkansas) along with Tobe Awaka (Arizona), Freddie Dilione (Penn State), and DJ Jefferson (Longwood).
Aidoo, who was a career-year junior for the Vols last season, was the most significant. Per On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players, he was the No. 10 overall transfer and No. 2 C. Awaka was notable too at No. 130 overall and as the No. 30 PF. Dilione was also at No. 167 and as the No. 26 SG.
As for additions, Tennessee has added a trio of portal pieces. They have commitments from Felix Okpara (Ohio State), Darlinston Dunbar (Hofstra), and Igor Milicic (Charlotte). All three are currently in the Top-150 of On3’s Ranking. Okpara is the No. 8 C, Dunbar is the No. 12 SF, and Milicic is the No. 36 PF.
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