Jonas Aidoo is a player college coaches know very well. However, he is someone that does not carry the fanfare around his area that he does with the coaches. This does not take away from the fact that Aidoo is a totally unique player.
For starters, Aidoo is 7 feet tall and there are only 0.000038% of people in the entire world can say that. This is what you see on the surface, the second he walks in. However, what you don’t see is that he just turned 17 years old in December, so albeit he is a senior he is at least a year younger than most everyone in his class.
Once you watch him play you notice two things off the rip, Aidoo is an elite shot-blocker and he can really shoot the ball. He is in the conversation as best shot blocker in North Carolina, uniquely enough he is also a 40% 3-point shooter.
Chris Sause, who is now an Assistant Coach with Averett, worked with Phenom Hoops for the previous two years, he wrote about Aidoo, “Jonas already possesses elite size and length especially for his age. But what makes Jonas so unique is his perimeter ability and ability to dribble, pass, and finally his best attribute his shooting. At his size with a good release on his jump shot college coaches should already be making their way out to Voyager Academy. I watched Jonas many times this summer have games where he would hit 4, 5, or 6 three pointers. He also showcased the ability to rebound the ball and put it on the floor to start the break. Now with all this being said Jonas is still far from a finished product. Jonas will need to improve in a few areas including the fluidly of his game and his motor. You can tell he is still growing into his body and becoming comfortable with being so tall at only 16-year-old.”
After watching him during this summer, playing with the NC Red Storm, Jamie Shaw of Phenom Hoops tweeted, “Jonas Aidoo remains one of the elite shot blockers in this region. His length, timing, ability with both hands. Add on his ability to create space off the bounce & shoot the 3, a world of upside.” and followed that tweet up with, “Jonas Aidoo just had 4 3s & 5 Blocks in the last game. Only 16, so still young, he has a world of upside & intrigue. ALL D1s Watch closely here could be a big-time late bloomer.”
There is no doubt that Aidoo is coveted by college coaches, at a high level. The local fandom should follow suit While he is not a finished product by any means, he will be. And once he is, you will be able to say “I saw him when…”
Jonas will be taking on 7′ Wake Forest commit Jaylon Gibson of GRACE Christian on Saturday at the 2nd Annual City of Oaks Classic. it will be exciting to see two of the Hoop State’s premier 7 footers go against one another, head to head.
Saturday’s game will be at 3:30 PM at North Raleigh Christian Academy. It is game 2 on the 5 game slate for the day.