Contributed photo / Jonas AidooNow that's some inside presence.
The Tennessee men's basketball program received a commitment Wednesday from Jonas Aidoo, a 6-foot-11, 215-pound center from Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. Aidoo is a four-star prospect, checking in as the nation's No. 7 center and No. 60 overall recruit in the 247Sports.com composite rankings for the 2021 class.
Aidoo announced his commitment via Twitter with a simple "Rocky Top!" He committed to Marquette in December but opened up his recruitment late last month after the firing of coach Steve Wojciechowski.
Justin Gainey, a Marquette assistant coach this past season, was hired by Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes as an assistant Monday.
Barnes said after the 70-56 loss to Oregon State last month in the first round of the NCAA tournament that his program had to move forward with more inside threats than this past season's team possessed. Tennessee's 2021 class includes three signees - point guard Kennedy Chandler, small forward Jahmai Mashack and shooting guard Quentin Diboundje of Montverde (Florida) Academy, whose signing became official Wednesday.
Justin Powell, a shooting guard who played 10 games this past season as an Auburn freshman, will be a Tennessee newcomer as well after going through the NCAA transfer portal.
Tennessee's five new faces do not completely counter the seven departures - Keon Johnson, Jaden Springer, Yves Pons, Davonte Gaines, E.J. Anosike, Corey Walker and Drew Pember - since the Oregon State loss. John Fulkerson, a senior this past season, could use the NCAA's extra year of eligibility that resulted from the coronavirus outbreak, but he has yet to reveal such a decision.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.