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Tennessee basketball: Ranking all 15 offseason roster changes by impact in 2021

By Caleb Calhoun

Jan 23, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes speaks with Tennessee Volunteers guard Yves Pons (35) and forward John Fulkerson (10) during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes speaks with Tennessee Volunteers guard Yves Pons (35) and forward John Fulkerson (10) during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 4: General view of the exterior of Thompson-Boling Arena prior to the football game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida defeated Tennessee 10-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 4: General view of the exterior of Thompson-Boling Arena prior to the football game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida defeated Tennessee 10-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

7. Jonas Aidoo commits

After Corey Walker Jr. transferred, Tennessee basketball’s only scholarship post players confirmed to be returning were 7’0″ center Uros Plavsic and 6’8″ wing/power forward Olivier Nkamhoua. The Vols had four-star Jahmai Mashack committed, but he is only 6’4″, so he can’t play down low. Outside of Plavsic and Nkamhoua, they only had walk-ons.

The issue was clear, and the Vols would either need to add talent on the recruiting trail or bring in some transfers. Well, one day after Quentin Diboundje Eyobo’s commitment, Rick Barnes secured one from four-star center Jonas Aidoo out of North Carolina.

Standing at 6’11” 230 pounds, the graduate of Liberty Heights Athletic Institute who hails from Durham, N.C. initially committed to the Marquette Golden Eagles. However, he decommitted after Marquette switched staffs, and he committed to the Vols after they brought in Justin Gainey to replace Desmond Oliver. Yes, the hire of Gainey secured Aidoo.

As a player, Aidoo is more highly-rated than Eyobo and fills a much bigger need. He gives the Vols more post depth, which is huge, and gives them two true options at center alongside Plavsic. One of them is bound to work out, which makes his commitment a bigger deal. His commitment is what really got things going for the Vols.

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