What to expect from Tennessee transfer forward Jonas Aidoo

Arkansas basketball’s frontcourt got significantly better and more experienced Monday.

Razorbacks coach John Calipari’s second transfer portal commitment of the spring came in the form of Tennessee forward Jonas Aidoo, who was widely considered one of the top available players in the country. According to On3.com’s ranking, he slotted in at No. 4 prior to his pledge.

Aidoo was a key frontline piece for Volunteers coach Rick Barnes the last two seasons as Tennessee advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2023 and the Elite Eight this March. He made a leap as a junior, starting all 36 games and averaging career highs in most statistical categories.

SEC Network analyst Dane Bradshaw, who played at Tennessee, told Natty State Sports that Aidoo has improved each season in college.

“He’s been well coached. He’s really developed a great left-hand jump hook,” Bradshaw said. “He’s somebody that’s really comfortable in the post going over his right [shoulder] or his left with extremely soft touch. He’s a pretty good screener and can pop with the midrange. He’s a little bit inconsistent. But, nevertheless, you’re OK with him shooting that 10- to 12-footer.”

Aidoo last season put up good numbers – 11.4 points on 51.5% shooting and 7.3 rebounds per game – but he can best impact winning as a shot blocker. The 6-11 and 240-pound forward rejected 1.83 shots per game, placing him third in the SEC and 41st nationally.

KenPom data shows Aidoo the last two seasons has finished 23rd and 36th, respectively, in the country in block percentage. He blocked multiple shots in 21 games, including five twice in SEC play (Kentucky, Georgia).

According to CBB Analytics, Aidoo averaged 0.85 blocks per personal foul committed. That figure fell in the 99th percentile nationally.

“Defensively, his timing is really good as a shot blocker. The old phrase, ‘Being the second guy off the ground,’ he’s great at that,” Bradshaw said. “I’d be shocked if more than one time this whole season did he bite at a pump fake. He’s an extremely patient defender with elite timing from that standpoint.

“Tennessee doesn’t do a lot of switching, but I think in an emergency switch situation he can hold his own and guard on the perimeter some if he has to. He can.”

The main knock on Aidoo is that he struggled at times with physicality and lost battles for positioning against talented, big-bodied centers.

“I think for the most part, when the matchup was equal to or lesser than, Aidoo was pretty reliable. I think he was right there on the cusp of being an All-SEC [first-team] player,” Bradshaw said. “But when it came to some of those heavy hitters, Aidoo did not play his best basketball.

“That’s the next step for him: getting stronger down low to not allow some of those bigger, physical players to impose their will, and getting a little bit more of a dog mentality and embracing those matchups to prove he’s an All-SEC player. I certainly think he can be. He’s right on the fringe.”

Aidoo can be tough to handle on the offensive glass (2.8 per game). His 12.4% offensive rebound rate ranked 72nd in the country, according to KenPom. 

Aidoo grabbed at least three offensive rebounds 18 times last season — 13 in SEC play. He had 19 total rebounds — 7 offensive — in 2 games against Calipari and the Wildcats in 2023-24.

Offensively, Aidoo is solid around the rim and in the midrange part of the floor, and is a more-than-capable roll man in ballscreen actions.

CBB Analytics shows he made 66.9% of his 166 rim attempts, including 37 putbacks. Aidoo also knocked down 19 of 32 (59.4%) shots 10 to 15 feet from the rim, and was 16 of 36 (44.4%) on two-point looks right of the lane.

Bradshaw added that Aidoo working with Arkansas associate head coach Kenny Payne will be beneficial for his game. Payne has a reputation for improving the games of big men he has coached.

“For the sake of comparison it’s probably fair,” Bradshaw said, “but Ugonna Onyenso for Kentucky last year, he was part of their best defensive five. But in order to put him in and be better defensively, you were going to lose ground offensively.

“I think Aidoo is a better version of that for Calipari’s system to say, ‘Hey, I can give you some good things defensively. And offensively, you’re not going to miss a beat either.’”