Report: Jonas Aidoo plans to withdraw from NBA Draft, play at Arkansas

Jonas Aidoo has been one of the few most significant additions to the new roster at Arkansas under John Calipari. Now, per reports, he will officially see that commitment through in Fayetteville.

Per Jon Rothstein, Aidoo will pull his name from the 2024 NBA Draft. In doing so, he will join the ‘Hogs for his senior year after choosing them out of the transfer portal.

“Jonas Aidoo tells me that he will withdraw from the 2024 NBA Draft and play for Arkansas next season,” wrote Rothstein in a tweet.

Aidoo played for the past three seasons at Tennessee. In that time, he appeared in 90 games for the Volunteers. During those outings, he averaged seven points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 49.8% from the field.

As a junior last year on Rocky Top, Aidoo has the best season of his career. In his first opportunity as a full-time starter who appeared in all 36 games, he posted 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks while shooting 51.5% overall. That earned him recognition on the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC All-Defensive Team.

Aidoo, a native of Durham, North Carolina, played high school basketball at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute. He was a four-star prospect as the No. 39 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He rated as the No. 6 C and top player from his state. He also ranked third in his No. 6 recruiting at Tennessee behind Kennedy Chandler (Memphis Grizzlies, Brooklyn Nets) and Brandon-Huntley Hatfield (Louisville, NC State).

However, after all that, Aidoo’s time with the ‘Vols came to a difficult end with his decision to enter his name into the portal as well as the NBA Draft. Rick Barnes has since described it as a surprise and something that they need to “move on” from.

Aidoo is one of four transfers to leave Knoxville this offseason. Upon his entry, he ranked as the No. 10 overall transfer and No. 2 C behind only Oumar Ballo (Indiana). That’s per On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players.

After plenty of interest nationwide in a big like him, Aidoo decided to stay in the Southeastern Conference and commit to Calipari at Arkansas. With his addition, he is one of four portal pieces to join the Razorbacks. He’ll come in with FAU’s Johnell Davis (No. 3, No. 1 SG) as well as Kentucky’s Adou Thiero (No. 104, No. 24 SF)and Zvonimir Ivisic (No. 109, No. 11 C). That quartet makes up the No. 43 portal class, which is in large part due to the loss of nine transfers from the previous roster in their final year under Eric Musselman.

Aidoo did not take part in the combine ahead of the NBA Draft. That only further improved the odds that a return to college could be more likely for him.

Aidoo is, figuratively as well as literally, one of the biggest additions at Arkansas for their roster next season. That’s why this news that he will play inside Bud Walton Arena this year is as significant as it is.