After Jonas Aidoo logged into the NCAA Transfer Portal, Rick Barnes didn’t waste any time. With a few roster spaces to replace following a wave of players quitting the team, the Tennessee basketball coach was unable to.
At the Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanooga on Wednesday night, Barnes reportedly said, “Honestly, I don’t want to sound crass about it, but you move on.” The Knoxville News Sentinel reported this.
“It’s important to have the attitude that maybe we can make improvements somewhere after losing someone.”
One of the seven players from the previous season’s squad to depart was Aidoo, who committed to and signed with Arkansas on Monday. Four other players also used the Transfer Portal.
Next season, Tennessee basketball’s roster will include seven new positions.
Josiah-Jordan James, Santiago Vescovi, and Dalton Knecht, three fifth-year seniors, left Tennessee. Redshirt freshman wing DJ Jefferson went to Longwood, redshirt freshman guard Freddie Dilione transferred to Penn State, and sophomore power forward Tobe Awaka—who had entered the portal the day before Aidoo—landed at Arizona.
Barnes stated on Wednesday that he was unfazed by the departures.
Barnes declared, “We have faith in the University of Tennessee.” “We are aware that many people would like to play for us.”
Three transfers have been made thus far by Barnes and his team: Darlinstone Dubar of Hofstra, Felix Okpara of Ohio State, a 6-foot-11 center, and Igor Milicic Jr., a 6-foot-10 forward, are the three players.
Guard Chaz Lanier of North Florida is another player whom the Vols are actively pursuing. There are now three unfilled roster spots. Another name to keep an eye on is Ben Hammond, a 2024 point guard prospect who had originally committed to Rhode Island.
Tennessee’s Jonas Aidoo had a strong junior season.
After a successful junior year at Tennessee, Aidoo was selected to the league’s all-defensive team and the Second Team All-SEC. With an average of 11.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game, he set career highs in both scoring and rebounding. 51.5% of his shots came from the floor.
Barnes stated, “We obviously have great love and respect for Jonas,” at the Chattanooga media availability. “We’ve seen him develop throughout our curriculum. However, he had the feeling that he could wish to play in a different manner and style once more.
Aidoo, a four-star center and one of the top-40 prospects in the 2021 recruiting class, first committed to Marquette before moving to Knoxville to follow Justin Gainey, the associate head coach of Tennessee and former assistant coach at Marquette.
Barnes acknowledged that after spending several years with the Tennessee program, “it hurts” when guys depart.
Barnes stated, “You have to be willing to adapt throughout my years in coaching.” However, it aches. It always happens when you think you’ve put in a lot of effort with a young kid and you’ve reached a certain stage. However, you also comprehend it. We completely understand it, I assure you.