Tennessee basketball power forward Jonas Aidoo entered the transfer portal while also declaring for the NBA Draft on Thursday after spending three seasons in Knoxville, On3’s Joe Tipton first reported. Aidoo is coming off a season where he earned First Team All-SEC honors both from the league’s media and coaches. He has until June 12 to withdrawal his name from the NBA Draft and use his final year of eligibility.
Aidoo is the second major interior departure of Tennessee’s roster this offseason. His backup last season, Tobe Awaka, entered the transfer portal earlier this week after spending two seasons at Tennessee.
With the two big men gone, Tennessee’s only returning post players are rising sophomores J.P Estrella and Cade Phillips. Estrella is a true five-man who played in 25 games last season while Phillips is a four-man who played in 13 games last season.
The 6-foot-11 power forward saw a big leap in production from his sophomore to junior season. He averaged 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game over the course of the 2023-24 season. Aidoo led the team in rebounds and blocks while finishing third on the team in blocks.
More From RTI: Tennessee Basketball Hosting Highly Touted Wing Transfer For Official Visit
Aidoo over doubled his points per game production from his sophomore season while also seeing an increase in minutes after Olivier Nkamhoua and Uros Plavsic left Tennessee’s program.
The Durham, North Carolina native was already a strong defender but was one of the best rim protectors in the country as a junior. According to EvanMiya.com, Aidoo was the nation’s 14 best defender last season and the fifth best amongst centers.
Josiah-Jordan James was the only Tennessee player (10th) that ranked higher on the defensive list than Aidoo.
While Aidoo was a breakout contributor in his junior season, he struggled to defend physical, elite big men and was not at his best to end the season especially in the Vols’ season ending loss against Purdue.
Aidoo becomes the fourth Tennessee basketball player to enter the transfer portal this offseason and marks the fourth starter that the Vols are losing off their roster this offseason. Tennessee now has six scholarships available ahead of the 2024-25 season.
