Tennessee big man transfer Tobe Awaka committed to Arizona basketball on Monday morning, he announced on his Instagram.
Awaka committed to Tommy Lloyd and the Wildcats just under three weeks after he entered the transfer portal. While the rising junior big man considered returning to Tennessee after Jonas Aidoo entered the portal he never did jump back in the boat.
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said that the Vols weren’t going to wait on Awaka’s decision. Once the Vols landed Ohio State transfer Felix Okpara, a reunion between the two sides seemed very unlikely. Awaka made it official on Monday morning when he committed to Arizona.
Awaka was Tennessee’s second big man last season, playing 13.1 minutes per game where he averaged 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. The sophomore had an up-and-down season but played better down the home stretch of the regular season.
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He totaled 18 points and 10 rebounds against Missouri and 12 points and six rebounds against Texas A&M in February. Awaka was strong in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebounds against Texas. He was also the Vols’ best big man in their Sweet 16 win over Creighton, making the plays that closed out the game, and again in their Elite Eight loss against Purdue.
But consistency was an issue for Awaka over the course of the season, especially his ability to play major minutes without fouling. A talented low post scorer and an elite rebounder, Awaka’s ability to play without fouling will be crucial to his success next season at Arizona.
With Awaka and Aidoo leaving Tennessee’s program, Barnes and his staff are turning to Ohio State transfer Felix Okpara and rising sophomore JP Estrella to fill the major void in minutes the two leave.
Tennessee basketball currently has three scholarships to work with as it looks to fill out its roster for the 2024-25 season.
