After the culmination of the 2023-24 season, four Tennessee basketball players entered the transfer portal. Subsequently, two players have publicly announced their commitments, and as of now, all four players have successfully secured positions with new teams. Notably, three of the aforementioned players have secured positions within power five schools, with one joining the ranks of the SEC.
It is noteworthy to highlight the entrance of redshirt freshmen Freddie Dilione and D.J. Jefferson into the transfer portal, which did not necessarily come as a surprise. Jefferson had minimal playing time during his two seasons at Tennessee, while Dilione, a highly regarded recruit, struggled to solidify a consistent role during his inaugural full season in Knoxville.
Conversely, the entrance of Jonas Aidoo, a former All-SEC big man, and Tobe Awaka into the transfer portal was considerably more surprising, especially considering their noteworthy contributions to the team. Aidoo notably demonstrated his acumen as a dominant big man within the SEC, and Awaka exhibited promise as a backup with notable rebounding and scoring capabilities in the low post.
Despite Tennessee’s loss of four players to the transfer portal, the team has also augmented its roster through the addition of three players, notably including Ohio State’s Felix Okpara, who is anticipated to assume the role of starting center for the Vols.
Resultantly, the inquiry remains – where did Tennessee’s outgoing transfers ultimately secure positions? We shall delve into their new educational institutions:
Jonas Aidoo
Position: 6-foot-11, 241-pound center
2023-24 statistics: 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game in 36 games played
New educational institution: Arkansas
Tobe Awaka
Position: 6-foot-8, 250-pound power forward/center
2023-24 statistics: 5.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game in 35 games played
New educational institution: Arizona
Freddie Dilione
Position: 6-foot-5, 180-pound combo guard
2023-24 statistics: 1.7 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game in 18 games played
New educational institution: Penn State
D.J. Jefferson
Position: 6-foot-5, 207-pound small forward
2023-24 statistics: 3 points and 2 rebounds in one game played
New educational institution: Longwood