The transfer portal has become a prominent part of college sports in recent years and Tennessee basketball is no stranger to it. The Vols have lost players to and added players from the transfer portal in recent years under Rick Barnes.
But no loss was more notable than when center Jonas Aidoo entered the transfer portal last spring before eventually landing with John Calipari and Arkansas. Aidoo is set to make his return to Tennessee on Saturday afternoon when top-ranked Tennessee hosts No. 23 Arkansas for its SEC opener.
Aidoo earned All-SEC honors for Tennessee a season ago, averaging 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 24.7 minutes per game. The 6-foot-11 center did struggle to close the season, particularly in the NCAA Tournament when he averaged five points and four rebounds while combining to play just 27 minutes in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.
Nevertheless, losing Aidoo to the portal was a significant loss for Tennessee last offseason. So how is Aidoo performing in his first season at Arkansas?
It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but Aidoo has undoubtedly been less productive so far this season. Aidoo is averaging 6.3 points, four rebounds and one block in 16 minutes per game so far this season.
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However, Aidoo has been much more productive as of late. The senior center battled an injury early in the season and was mostly a non factor in his first five games back on the court. In his last five games, Aidoo has been much better averaging 11 points, 6.2 rebounds and two blocks per game.
Aidoo’s improved production lines up with the exact game that Calipari moved the senior center into the starting lineup for the first time this season.
Granted four of those five matchups were buy games but it does appear that Aidoo is turning a corner. He scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds during Arkansas’ win over Michigan— the Razorbacks best of the season.
Tennessee signed Aidoo out of high school in the 2021 signing class. He spent his first three years at Tennessee with his role slowly expanding in each of his three seasons in Knoxville before he moved on for his final collegiate season.
Rick Barnes and his staff went out and added Ohio State center Felix Okpara in the transfer portal to replace Aidoo. Through 13 games this season, Okpara is averaging 6.8 points, six rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
Tipoff between Tennessee and Arkansas is at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon. ESPN is broadcasting the game.
