John Calipari’s addition of Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo to Arkansas has the potential to have a significant impact on the Razorbacks. Aidoo, one of the top defensive big men in the country last season under Rick Barnes, committed to Arkansas on Monday. He averaged 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game for the Volunteers, who were a No. 2 seed and made the Elite Eight. With this move, Calipari is solidifying his reputation as a premier recruiter in the SEC and beyond.
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. The Durham, North Carolina native had a substantial NIL price tag and joins Zvonimir Ivišić on Arkansas’ 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 to further strengthen their roster.
Despite the departure of Eric Musselman to USC, Arkansas remains an attractive destination due to Calipari’s history of recruiting NBA-level talent and the deep NIL resources available at the program. With the transfer portal closing for college basketball players on Wednesday night, players will take additional time to decide on their next steps