Tennessee center Jonas Aidoo addresses decision to enter NCAA Transfer Portal
Tennessee basketball’s Jonas Aidoo addressed his decision to both enter his name in the NBA Draft process and enter the NCAA Transfer Portal with a social media post on Friday morning. Aidoo entered the portal on Thursday, becoming the fourth Tennessee player to do so.
Here’s how Aidoo addressed his decision:
“First off, I would like to thank God for putting me in this position, as I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. A big thanks to Coach Barnes, and thee there academic and athletic staff at the University of Tennessee. I would also like to thank my family, friends, teammates, and coaches for all your support throughout my career so far. It’s been an honor to put on a Tennessee uniform each and every game and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, nor be in this position today without everyone’s love and belief in me as a player.
“After discussions with my family and loved ones, I have made the decision to enter my name into the 2024 NBA Draft, while retaining my eligibility, and entering my name into the transfer portal. I look forward to obtaining valuable feedback that will assist me in my lifelong goal of playing in the NBA, and I appreciate all your support along this journey!”
Jonas Aidoo was Second Team All-SEC, All-Defensive team
Aidoo had a breakout junior season and was named Second Team All-SEC and made the SEC’s All-Defensive team.
He averaged career-highs in scoring (11.4 points per game), rebounding (7.3), defensive rebounds (4.5), offensive rebounds (2.8), blocks (1.8), steals (0.7) and minutes (25.4). He was fourth in the SEC in rebounding and third in the league in blocked shots.
Aidoo’s regular-season numbers didn’t translate in the postseason. In one SEC Tournament game and four NCAA Tournament games, Aidoo totaled 35 points and 26 rebounds.
He scored 15 points in the win over Saint Peter’s in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and had 11 against Texas in the second round. He had just four points against Creighton in the Sweet 16 and was scoreless in 10 minutes in the Elite Eight loss to Purdue, going a combined 2-for-12 from the field in the second weekend of the tournament.
The other three Tennessee players currently in the NCAA Transfer Portal are redshirt freshmen Freddie Dilione V and DJ Jefferson and sophomore forward Tobe Awaka.
Tennessee has six open scholarship spots after the departure of Jonas Aidoo
Aidoo leaving would makes six scholarship spots open on the 2024-25 roster. Tennessee lost three fifth-year seniors in Dalton Knecht, Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi. The Vols currently have one signee in the 2024 class in four-star point guard Bishop Boswell.
Tennessee currently scheduled to return six scholarship players: Juniors Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey and freshmen JP Estrella, Cam Carr and Cade Phillips.
It’s still possible that Awaka could remove his name from the portal and return to Tennessee, with Aidoo now on the way out.
Awaka averaged 5.1 points, 4.6 rebound and 0.6 blocks in 12.9 minutes per game, coming off the bench in 33 games this season. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game as a freshman.
Dilione entered the portal after averaging just 5.3 minutes in his 18 appearances this season. Jefferson played in just one game, with three points in three minutes in the season-opening win over Tennessee Tech in November.
