John Calipari’s latest addition to the Arkansas Razorbacks roster is Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo, who committed to the program on Monday. Aidoo, a highly-regarded defensive big man, averaged 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game for the Volunteers last season under Rick Barnes, making them a No. 2 seed and an Elite Eight participant. With his commitment to Arkansas, Aidoo has the opportunity to solidify his reputation as a premier player in the SEC and nationally.
This is Calipari’s first major portal pickup since taking over at Arkansas three weeks ago. Aidoo was ranked 25th on David Cobb’s list of 2024 transfers and considered Baylor and UNC before choosing Arkansas. He joins Zvonimir Ivišić on the Razorbacks roster along with three former UK commits.
Calipari and his staff are expected to add more notable names from the portal in the near future, further strengthening the program’s roster despite the departure of Eric Musselman to USC. The NIL resources available at the program remain an attractive draw for players looking for opportunities in college basketball, as well as their potential for financial gain through endorsements and other NIL deals.
As college basketball players have more time to make decisions regarding their next steps with the transfer portal closing on Wednesday night, Arkansas continues to be a key player in attracting top talent from around the country. With Calipari’s history of recruiting NBA-level talent and the deep NIL resources available at the program, it is likely that more notable names will be added to the Razorbacks’ roster in due course, further solidifying their position as a top team in college basketball