SEC Basketball: Ranking the top 20 incoming transfers for the 2024-25 season

03. Jonas Aidoo (Arkansas)

2023-24 Season at Tennessee: 11.4 PPG | 7.3 RPG | 1.8 BPG | 51.5 FG% | 20.0 3PT%

Jonas Aidoo was one of the best defensive players in the SEC this past season, and if it weren’t for teammate Zakai Zeigler could have arguably been the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Aidoo, an SEC All-Defensive team selection, was fourth in the SEC in rebounds, averaging 7.3 per game and third in blocks with 1.8 per game. There wasn’t much Aidoo couldn’t do on the defensive end this past season, guarding well in all situations. 

Aidoo was a strong rebounder on both ends of the court, averaging 2.8 offensive rebounds and 4.5 defensive rebounds. He ended last season with 11 games of double-digit rebounds, with a season-high of 15 rebounds against Georgia. 

Aidoo isn’t known for his offense but was still able to put up some good numbers last season. He scored more than 20 points three times, with a season-high of 29 points in a win over Georgia Southern. 

In the past, one of the hallmarks of a John Calipari team was a strong defense. Last season, the Calipari led Kentucky Wildcats had one of the worst defenses in all of college basketball. Now that Calipari is at Arkansas, the addition of Aidoo to his roster all but guarantees that won’t be the case moving forward. Only a couple of players in the conference had a bigger defensive impact than Aidoo last season, and with another year of experience, he should be able to improve on both ends of the court.