Tennessee transfer center Jonas Aidoo commits to Arkansas

Former Tennessee center Jonas Aidoo has committed to join Arkansas via the NCAA transfer portal, per On3’s Joe Tipton. The commitment confirms what CBS reports first.

Aidoo averaged 11.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as he helped lead Tennessee to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Aidoo was also a defensive aid, serving to block 1.8 shots per game, a solid rim protector. At 6 foot 11, 241 pounds, he has excellent size in the post.

Moreover, Aidoo’s improvement over the last three years has been tremendous. He went from averaging 2.1 points and 2.2 rebounds as a freshman, to 5.1 points and 4.9 rebounds as a sophomore, to 11.4 points and 7.3 rebounds as a junior.

Prior to enrolling at Tennessee, Jonas Aidoo was a four-star prospect and the No. 40 overall player in the nation in the 2021 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

He also checked in as a the No. 7 center in the class and the No. 1 overall player in the state of North Carolina, hailing from Charlotte (NC) Liberty Heights Athletic Institute.

Kenny Payne hired to John Calipari’s staff at Arkansas

Moreover, an unlikely reunion in an unlikely situation has taken place, as former Louisville head coach Kenny Payne has been hired on as an assistant by Arkansas head coach John Calipari, the school announced. Payne will serve as Arkansas’ associate head coach.

Payne and Calipari previously worked together at Kentucky from 2010-2020, including playing the role of associate head coach for the Wildcats under the new Razorbacks coach from 2014 until his departure. Together, Payne was on the staff for six SEC Tournament Championships, four Final Four appearances and one national championship in 2012. 

On top of that, Payne helped Calipari compile top three recruiting classes in every season he was in Lexington, including five No. 1 classes. Even at Louisville, Payne spearheaded a top-10 class ahead of the 2023-24 college basketball season.

He left Kentucky in 2020 to become an assistant on the New York Knicks’ staff. After two seasons in the pros, Payne was hired by his alma mater, Louisville, in 2022. He was let go after two years.

The stars have aligned and the two come together once again, this time in Fayetteville. As Calipari continues to build his initial staff, it’s clear that the new Arkansas coach is building a group around him that have a history of success working together.