Arkansas
Jonas Aidoo commits to Arkansas
Jonas Aidoo has a new home — and he’ll be staying in the SEC. The 6-11 center announced on Monday that he will be joining John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks next season.
Baylor was the perceived favorite here, but Arkansas made a strong push this weekend getting him on campus for a visit. Alabama, North Carolina and Kentucky were also involved.
Aidoo is coming off of his best season yet, emerging as a true offensive threat for Tennessee during his junior year. He averaged 11.4 points per game, shooting 51.5 percent from the field. Aidoo added 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
Rick Barnes admitted that Aidoo’s departure was a surprise.
“He had told everybody he was fine,” Barnes told the media in an uncharacteristically short response.
Aidoo also entered the NBA Draft, and there’s been some chatter about him wanting to have more freedom to shoot from long range. He shot 20 percent on very limited attempts from three-point range last season, but developing his shot a little bit more could boost his NBA stock.
Tennessee essentially replaced Aidoo with Ohio State center Felix Okpara, who might not be as skilled on the offensive end, but likely is going to bring a little more to the table defensively. The Volunteers have also landed two long wings — 6-10 Igor Milicic and 6-8 Darlinstone Dubar.
Tennessee still has three open spots on the roster left to fill.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including a key 3-pointer with just over two minutes left in the second half, to help No. 18 Arkansas to an 86-75 win over No. 19 Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams on Saturday.
Arkansas (11-3) used a 18-5 run over a 6-minute, 37-second span midway through the second half to turn a five-point deficit into an eight-point lead with 5:40 left. Tennessee shot just 2 for 10 from the field during Arkansas’ run, missing eight shots in a row before finally scoring.
The Volunteers (10-4) took advantage of an Arkansas cold shooting spell — the Razorbacks picked up 12 of their 18 points during the run from the free-throw line — to close within two points with under four minutes to play. Acuff made a 3-pointer from the wing with 2:09 remaining to give the Razorbacks a 79-68 lead.
Tennessee shot 49% from the field and was outscored at the line, going 12 for 23 while Arkansas shot 29 for 33.
Acuff was the only Arkansas player to shoot better than 50% from the floor, going 9 for 16. The Razorbacks shot 42% overall. Acuff was joined in double-digit scoring by Meleek Thomas, who scored 18 points. Malique Ewin added 12 points and Karter Knox 11.
Amari Evans’ 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting led three Tennessee players in double figures.
Arkansas won its opening SEC game for the first time since the 2020-21 season. The Razorbacks have reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in four of the five seasons since and made two Elite Eight appearances.
Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas (1) shoots over Tennessee defenders Ja’Kobi Gillespie, left, and Felix Okpara, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Fayetteville, Ark. Credit: AP/Michael Woods
Up next
Arkansas: At Ole Miss on Wednesday.
Tennessee: Hosts Texas on Tuesday.
Sheila Yount
Sheila Yount is a features editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. An Arkansas native and communications professional with 42 years of experience, she edits and writes for the Style sections with a primary focus on the Saturday home and garden section and the Monday style section, which includes content on outdoor recreation, physical fitness and health, as well as history and other topics.
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