Rick Barnes didn’t see Jonas Aidoo’s decision to transfer coming in April.
Eight months later, the Tennessee basketball coach is seeing Aidoo come back to Knoxville as an Arkansas Razorback.
“He’s there, we’re here and it’s about competition now,” Barnes said Friday.
The No. 1 Vols (13-0) are set to face Aidoo, who played three seasons at UT, when they host Arkansas (11-2) on Saturday (1 p.m. ET, ESPN). Aidoo transferred from Tennessee to Arkansas following an All-SEC season as a sophomore. He is averaging 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in an injury-hampered season.
The 6-foot-11 Aidoo averaged 11.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a junior at Tennessee.
“Jonas, really, we loved him when he was here, what he did and loved his growth,” Barnes said.
Jonas Aidoo playing for Arkansas at Tennessee part of portal landscape
Tennessee had four players enter the portal following its Elite Eight run last season. Aidoo was the only one that caught Barnes by surprise.
“Yeah because he had told everybody he was fine,” Barnes said.
Fine turned into entering the transfer portal April 11 and committing to Arkansas on April 29, which has led to Saturday’s matchup between a player and his former program.
“We appreciate what Jonas did from while he was here, but you all know the landscape of where we are in intercollegiate athletics,” Barnes said. “You’re going to see more of that, obviously, as time goes on, when guys leave and go other places for various reasons sometimes.”
Barnes indicated at the Big Orange Caravan in Chattanooga in May that Aidoo “felt like he may want to play a different style, a different way.”
Aidoo’s final game at Tennessee was lousy. He was scoreless in a season-low 10 minutes and committed three fouls against Purdue and All-American Zach Edey in UT’s 72-66 loss to miss the program’s first Final Four. He did not play for the final 16:59.
After the season, guard Freddie Dilione V transferred to Penn State, guard D.J. Jefferson went to Longwood and forward Tobe Awaka landed at Arizona as outgoing transfers. The Vols brought in guard Darlinstone Dubar, guard Chaz Lanier, forward Igor Milicic Jr. and forward Felix Okpara.
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Jonas Aidoo has dealt with injury at Arkansas
Aidoo was part of the 2021 recruiting class that included Vols guards Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler.
Mashack said he is approaching facing Aidoo and Arkansas like he would any other game despite a close friend on the other side. He suggested it is a similar feeling to playing your friends in the park growing up and wanting to win.
“I am going to compete fully and focused on winning the game, focused on playing my best basketball and making sure I am leading the team as much as I can on both ends,” Mashack said. “If Jonas is going to be on the other side of that, then that’s what is. No matter who is on the other side, I am going to approach the game the same way.”
Aidoo’s impact at Arkansas this season has been limited by an injury. He was hampered in the preseason then missed a three-game November stretch. He is averaging 16 minutes in 10 games with five starts.
Aidoo averaged 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game in his three seasons at Tennessee.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Jonas Aidoo returns to face Tennessee, Rick Barnes with Arkansas
